title: Natural history of chronic Staphylococcus epidermidis foreign body infection in a mouse model.
abstract: The development and characterization of a mouse model of chronic Staphylococcus epidermidis foreign body infection was done with two clinical isolates that differed in degree of extracellular slime production. Segments of Silastic catheters bearing preformed S. epidermidis biofilms were implanted intraperitoneally, and mice were assessed after 3 and 6 months. Both test strains of S. epidermidis persisted at the implant site through the 6-month follow-up in 80% of the mice, regardless of the degree of slime production. There was no evidence of overt animal morbidity, and microbiologic assessment of other peritoneal sites did not reveal dissemination of bacteria from the infected focus. In comparison with control mice, animals harboring chronic foreign body infection presented marked peripheral neutrophilia and mild anemia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Montreal General Hospital, Canada.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gallimore
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Gagnon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Subang
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Richards
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications*; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D010531:Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000209:etiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis