Microporous Polysaccharide Hemospheres do not enhance abdominal infection in a rat model compared with gelatin matrix.
BACKGROUND
Residual topical hemostatic material can serve as a nidus for infection or enhance infection in an already contaminated wound. A newly approved agent, Microporous Polysaccharide Hemospheres (MPH) (Arista AH), has rapid degradation properties, which may reduce the chance of surgical site infection.


METHODS
With institutional approval, 170 Wister rats underwent standardized anesthesia and abdominal surgery. An Echerichia coli inoculum was added to the incision, and MPH, gelatin matrix, or no agent (control) was placed in the site. After 72 h, the animals were sacrificed, and colony-forming units (cfu)/g were counted in the harvested tissue.


RESULTS
Application of gelatin matrix resulted in more cfu/g of tissue and an 87% infection rate, with fewer cfu/g of tissue and a 14% and 24% infection rate in the control and MPH groups, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of MPH in this rat abdominal infection model did not enhance infection. Gelatin matrix was associated with a greater infection rate than MPH. The rapid degradation of MPH may account for these results, making it a good hemostat in the presence of infective sources.
Ereth
Mark H
MH
Transfusion, Coagulation and Cardiopulmonary Bypass Research Group, Department of Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. ereth.mark@mayo.edu
Dong
Yue
Y
Schrader
Lisa M
LM
Henderson
Nicolle A
NA
Agarwal
Shvetank
S
Oliver
William C
WC
Nuttall
Gregory A
GA
D000818:Animals; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004864:Equipment and Supplies; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections; D005780:Gelatin; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011134:Polysaccharides; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000209:etiology*
D011134:Polysaccharides; D005780:Gelatin