Experimental infection of dacron and bovine grafts

Abstract

This study compared the susceptibility of Dacron and ficin treated bovine grafts, implanted in dogs, to infection induced by a staphylococcal bacteremia. Forty mongrel dogs had a 2-cm segment of the infrarenal aorta replaced with either a 6-mm diameter Dacron or bovine graft. The dogs were divided into four groups: Control Groups I and II consisted of 5 dogs with Dacron grafts and 5 dogs with bovine grafts, respectively. In Group III, 16 dogs had Dacron grafts implanted and were given a S. aureus bacteremia. Group IV consisted of 15 dogs with bovine grafts subjected to S. aureus bacteremia. All dogs were sacrificed at 6 wk postoperatively, unless death occurred earlier. The grafts were cultured in beefbrain broth, plated, and bacterial growth identified by phage typing. Control Groups I and II showed no growth on cultures of the grafts. In Group III (Dacron grafts) 5 dogs died between the seventh and ninth postoperative days due to disruption of the infected anastomoses. Fifteen of the 16 Dacron grafts yielded growth of S. aureus phage type 29/52/81 on culture. All 15 bovine grafts in Group IV were infected with S. aureus and there were 14 deaths between days 5 and 8 due to hemorrhage from the disrupted grafts. It is concluded that Dacron and bovine grafts are equally susceptible to bacteremic infection, but disruption occurs more frequently and earlier in the infected bovine graft.