Foreign-body-associated experimental osteomyelitis induced with Bacteroides fragilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis in rabbits.
Bacteroides fragilis and Staphylococcus epidermidis, alone and in combination, were used to induce foreign-body-associated osteomyelitis in a rabbit model. In this model, a catheter, used as a foreign body, was implanted into the medullary cavity of the tibia. Only two of five animals infected with S. epidermidis alone developed culture-positive osteomyelitis, whereas all three animals infected with B. fragilis alone developed osteomyelitis. All six animals infected with both microorganisms developed culture-positive osteomyelitis. Roentgenographic and histologic evaluations confirmed the diagnosis of osteomyelitis. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy showed that when the two microorganisms are involved in a mixed infection, S. epidermidis predominates on the foreign body and B. fragilis predominates in the infected bone and marrow.
Lambe
D W
DW
Department of Microbiology, James H. Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City 37614.
Ferguson
K P
KP
Mayberry-Carson
K J
KJ
Tober-Meyer
B
B
Costerton
J W
JW
D000818:Animals; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D005549:Foreign-Body Reaction / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000648:ultrastructure