Experimental infections along subcutaneous conduits

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Abstract
To determine whether progressive infection along percutaneous conduits (PC) usually leads to infection of cardiac assist devices, two PCs each were implanted into the subcutis of 11 dogs. One month later, one end of one conduit was inoculated with either E. coli or S. aureus. The resulting infections in all dogs progressed little during the first two weeks and in 10 of the 11 animals involved less than 40% of the total length of the PC. Bacteriological tests one month after the infecting organisms were introduced showed that they were no longer present at the site of inoculation in 4 of the 11 dogs and no bacteria were found at the opposite end of the inoculated PCs or in the noninoculated PCs. Histological observations confirmed these results and indicated that in all animals encapsulation of the infected area prevented its further enlargement.