The in-vitro assessment of a collagen/vicryl (polyglactin) composite film together with candidate suture materials for potential use in urinary tract surgery. III. Adherence of bacteria to the material surface.

A Collagen/Vicryl (Polyglactin) composite membrane (developed for use in urinary tract surgery) has been incubated in cultures of radioactively labelled urinary tract pathogens vis Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Proteus mirabilis for up to 1 h. For comparison, collagen film, Vicryl mesh, and a number of absorbable and non-absorbable sutures were similarly tested. Following incubation, samples were also examined by scanning electron microscopy. Under the experimental conditions employed, only minimal adherence of the micro-organisms to the collagen coated Vicryl mesh, its two individual components, as well as Vicryl and nylon sutures was observed. Significantly greater numbers of bacteria, however, adhered to silk and Chromic Catgut. The results suggest that adherence of microorganisms to the prosthesis even in infected urine is unlikely to develop into a microcolony of bacteria. However, it should be emphasised that great care must be exercised when extrapolating from the in-vitro to the in-vivo situation.