Effect of glucose concentration and dwell time of dialysis fluid on the antibacterial defense in the peritoneal cavity of rats.

To study the influence of dialysis fluid on the antibacterial defense in the peritoneal cavity of rats, especially glucose concentration and dwell time, an experimental infection was developed. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with dialysis fluid with a glucose concentration of 1.36%, 2.27%, or 3.86% or physiological saline. Subsequently 1, 4 or 18 hr thereafter an inoculum of approximately 3 x 10(8) colony forming units of Staphylococcus aureus was administered intraperitoneally (i.p.) Next, 24 hr after the inoculation the number of viable bacteria was determined. Peritoneal cells (PC) isolated 1, 4 and 18 hr after the administration of dialysis fluid were tested for their capacity to kill S. aureus in vitro. A positive relation was observed between the glucose concentration and the number of bacteria isolated; the longer the dwell time the lower this number. In vitro PC isolated at the various intervals did not differ in their capacity to kill S. aureus. It is concluded that the glucose concentration in dialysis fluid impairs the antistaphylococcal defense in the peritoneal cavity of rats. A relatively long dwell time enhances this defense. These results cannot be explained by a lower capacity of the PC to kill S. aureus in vitro.