Adherence of Bacteria to Suture Materials

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Abstract
Sutures were incubated in suspensions of radiolabeled Enterobacteriaceae or Staphylococcus aureus and nonadherent bacteria were removed by washing. Adherence of bacteria to gut was up to 100 times greater than to nylon; adherence to polyglycolic acid or silk was intermediate. Thus, gut sutures probably have the highest frequency of association with surgical wound infection, followed by silk and nylon in descending order of frequency. Braided materials had increased adherence compared to nonbraided materials, probably due to increased surface area. Adherence of Enterobacteriaceae to suture material was saturable and time dependent and was blocked by addition of unlabeled bacteria. Adherence of bacteria to sutures may be an integral part of the pathogenesis of certain surgical infections [in humans].