In vitro adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis to silicone punctual plugs and collagen implants.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate in vitro adherence of Staphylococcus epidermidis to silicone punctal plugs and collagen implants.


METHODS
Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA.


METHODS
Silicone punctal plugs and collagen implants were exposed to S epidermidis (3 x 10(8) colony forming units/mL) for 0, 5, 30, and 60 minutes, rinsed in sterile saline, and processed for light, scanning (SEM), and transmission (TEM) electron microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy (x2000) was used to quantify bacteria/mm2 adhering to the devices.


RESULTS
The mean S epidermidis/mm2 +/- (SD) adhering to each device were as follows: baseline, silicone punctal plug, 1593 +/- 899, and collagen implant, 7168 +/- 2895 (P =.000, paired Student t test); 5 minutes, silicone punctal plug, 3833 +/- 537, and collagen implant, 6571 +/- 2240 (P =.008); 30 minutes, silicone punctal plug, 13 988 +/- 9076, and collagen implant, 10 404 +/- 1731 (P =.2616); and 60 minutes, silicone punctal plug, 12 644 +/- 10 402, and collagen implant, 11 748 +/- 2685 (P =.8056).


CONCLUSIONS
Staphylococcus epidermidis adhered significantly more to collagen implants than to silicone punctal plugs at 0 and 5 minutes. No significant difference in bacterial adherence was seen at 30 and 60 minutes. For both devices, bacterial adherence increased with increasing exposure.
John
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Department of Ophthalmology, Loyola University Chicago, Illinois, USA. cornea999@aol.com
Kopstein
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John
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Lai
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Carey
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D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D003094:Collagen; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007765:Lacrimal Apparatus / Q000601:surgery; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000382:microbiology*; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure
D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D012826:Silicone Elastomers; D003094:Collagen