DIGITAL STEREOLOGY TO QUANTIFY THE FILLING RATE OF BACTERIAL AGGREGATES OF PSEUDOMONAS-AERUGINOSA

The quantitative evaluation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion to the respiratory epithelium in culture by scanning electron microscopy obse rvation required the evaluation of the filling rate of bacterial aggre gates. We used classical stereological methods. The bacterial aggregat es were found to be occupied by bacteria in 50% of their total volume. This result will help us to understand the aggregation process of Pse udomonas aeruginosa and to analyze the effect of molecules used for pr eventing bacterial adhesion to the respiratory epithelium.