title: Fibronectin concentrations in catheter sepsis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the role of fibronectin in the pathogenesis of biomaterial-related infections and the influence of catheter sepsis on the concentration of plasma fibronectin during various stages of bacteremia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Plasma fibronectin concentrations were determined by the simple radial immunodiffusion method. Four groups of subjects were used: one group comprised patients with catheter sepsis, the second patients with local inflammation of the catheter insertion site caused by slime-positive, coagulase-negative staphylococci, the third patients with slime-negative, coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from the catheter, and the fourth demonstrably healthy persons.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In patients with catheter sepsis, fibronectin concentrations were found after the disappearance of catheter sepsis and 3--5 days after the removal of the catheter. A statistically significant decrease in fibronectin concentration was detected in the plasma of patients with catheter sepsis compared with other groups of patients and control subjects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The above results indicate a pathogenic role for fibronectin in biomaterial-related infections.
authors.affiliation: Microbiological Laboratory, Institute for Public Health, Varazdin, I. Mestrovića bb, Croatia. opca-bolnica-varazdin@vz.tel,hr
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nemet
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zagar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000382:microbiology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D005779:Immunodiffusion; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018805:Sepsis / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology; D013210:Staphylococcus / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005353:Fibronectins