FIBRIN IN PERITONITIS .3. THE MECHANISM OF BACTERIAL TRAPPING BY POLYMERIZING FIBRIN

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 92  (3) , 513-519
Abstract
The extent of incorporation of various aerobic and anaerobic bacteria as well as polystyrene latex microspheres into fibrin clots were compared. Similar numbers of organisms and microspheres were incorporated into either noncontracted or contracted fibrin clots. Detailed comparisons of the binding of Escherichia coli or Staphylococcus aureus to human fibronogen were then made. The addition of 0111:B4 lipopolysaccharide did not inhibit incorporation of E. coli 0111:B4 into either type of fibrin clot. With initial inoculum sizes of 106-108 colony-forming units (CFU)/ml, S. aureus was better incorporated into contracted fibrin clots (P < 0.01) than was E. coli, possible evidence for an easily saturable receptor mechanism. Evidently, microorganisms are incorporated into the polymerizing fibrin matrix in the same fashion as are inert particles of similar size, irrespective of external chemical structure. Adherence of bacteria to fibrinogen or polymerizing fibrin did not appear to represent a specific bacterial virulence factor, more likely representing an effective host defense maechanism of broad specificity.