Fibrinolytic and Antibiotic Treatment of Prosthetic Vascular Graft Infections in a Novel Rat Model

Mikkel Illemann Johansen*, Søren Jensen Rahbek, Søren Jensen-Fangel, Ole Halfdan Larsen, Lise Tornvig Erikstrup, Rikke Louise Meyer, Nis Pedersen Jørgensen

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to conferencePosterCommunication

Abstract

Background
Medical implants are prone to bacterial attachment and development of biofilms. Biofilms cause the bacteria’s recalcitrance to antibiotics, resulting in a chronic infection that can be fatal. Previously, we have shown that the combination of antibiotics with fibrinolytic drugs such as streptokinase and tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can eradicate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilms in vitro. In this study, we aim to compare the efficacy of antibiotic therapy with and without tPA to treat MRSA biofilms in a novel rat model of prosthetic vascular graft infections (PVGI)

Methods
Rats received a pre-inoculated vascular graft implanted in a. carotis communis. Implants were inoculated with approx. 4.4 CFU/graft of MRSA USA300 FPR3757. 10 days following surgery rats were randomized to either 1) vancomycin (50 mg/kg); 2) vancomycin + rifampicin (25 mg/kg); 3) vancomycin + tPA (0.9 mg/kg); 4) vancomycin + rifampicin + tPA or; 5) 0.9% NaCl, as a seven-day treatment. Hereafter, the rats were euthanized, and implants and organs were harvested for CFU enumeration.

Results
Vancomycin and rifampicin treatment was superior compared to monotherapy with vancomycin, with a decrease in bacterial load on the prosthetics (2.89 ± 0.77, p= 0.0012, mean ± SD). Addition of tPA to antibiotic combination therapy did not show a further decrease in bacterial load (0.32±0.50, p= 0.526, mean ± SD), however, we saw a 16% cure rate in the vancomycin + rifampicin vs. 40% cure rate in the vancomycin + rifampicin + tPA group. Whilst interesting, this trend was at our sample size not significant (p=0.24, Fisher’s exact test.

Conclusions
This study is the first to treat PVGI in an in vivo model, with clinically relevant doses of a fibrinolytic drug in conjunction with antibiotics. Our model could be used as a basis for future testing of both current antibiotics against PVGI and novel compounds against biofilm producing bacteria. The study drug combinations had limited effect at our samples size, and animal studies on a larger scale are therefore needed to evaluate the potential of this combination against PVGI.
Original languageEnglish
Publication date9 Jun 2021
Publication statusPublished - 9 Jun 2021
Event31st European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) -
Duration: 9 Jul 202112 Jul 2021

Conference

Conference31st European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID)
Period09/07/202112/07/2021

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