ENTEROCOCCUS-FAECALIS LOCALIZATION IN EXPERIMENTAL ENDOPHTHALMITIS - ROLE OF PLASMID-ENCODED AGGREGATION SUBSTANCE

Enterococci have emerged as leading agents of nosocomial infection, ye t relatively little is known about the pathogenesis of enterococcal di sease, In previous studies, we developed an Enterococcus faecalis endo phthalmitis infection model which provides unique opportunities to stu dy the evolution of enterococcal disease by direct observation, as wel l as through sensitive electrophysiologic measures of organ function. The present study was designed to determine whether E. faecalis posses ses traits that permit its attachment to mammalian tissues during infe ction. It was also of interest to determine whether a plasmid-encoded adhesin, aggregation substance, contributes to enterococcal localizati on or otherwise mediates adherence to alternate sites, These studies f ound that, in this model, enterococci attach to membranous structures occurring within the vitreous but that this attachment or the course o r severity of disease is unaffected by the aggregation substance pheno type.