Fibronectin is more active than fibrin or fibrinogen in promoting Staphylococcus aureus adherence to inserted intravascular catheters.
To further define the role of fibrin(ogen) and fibronectin in Staphylococcus aureus adherence to central venous catheters, the amount, chemical integrity, and biologic activity of these proteins adsorbed on lines inserted in hospitalized patients were prospectively studied. Polyurethane cannulas promoted a significantly lower adherence of S. aureus than polyvinyl chloride (P < .01) or Hickman (P < .001) cannulas and contained the lowest amount of immunologically assayed fibronectin but not of fibrin(ogen). Fibrinogen showed an extensive loss of adherence-promoting activity on inserted cannulas, which was related to its proteolytic breakdown, as detected by SDS-PAGE and immunoblots with antifibrinogen antibodies and confirmed by in vitro studies with purified protein fragments. In contrast, either intact or fragmented fibronectin, although present in much lower amounts than fibrin(ogen), could actively promote S. aureus adherence onto intravenous catheters.
Vaudaux
P
P
Division of Infectious Diseases, University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
Pittet
D
D
Haeberli
A
A
Lerch
P G
PG
Morgenthaler
J J
JJ
Proctor
R A
RA
Waldvogel
F A
FA
Lew
D P
DP
D000925:Anticoagulants; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion / Q000502:physiology*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005337:Fibrin / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products / Q000502:physiology; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D005341:Fibrinolysin / Q000502:physiology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D007074:Immunoglobulin G / Q000096:biosynthesis; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D011140:Polyurethanes; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
D000925:Anticoagulants; D005338:Fibrin Fibrinogen Degradation Products; D005353:Fibronectins; D007074:Immunoglobulin G; D011140:Polyurethanes; C015214:fibrinogen D fragment; C030568:fibrinogen fragment X; D005337:Fibrin; D005340:Fibrinogen; D011143:Polyvinyl Chloride; D005341:Fibrinolysin