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A new rabbit model of implant-related biofilm infection: development and evaluation

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Abstract

This study is to establish a rabbit model for human prosthetic joint infection and biofilm formation. Thirty-two healthy adult rabbits were randomly divided into four groups and implanted with stainless steel screws and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) washers in the non-articular surface of the femoral lateral condyle of the right hind knees. The rabbit knee joints were inoculated with 1 mL saline containing 0, 102, 103, 104 CFU of Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) isolated from the patient with total knee arthroplasty (TKA) infection, respectively. On the 14th postoperative day, the UHMWPE washers from the optimal 103 CFU group were further examined. The SEM examination showed a typical biofilm construction that circular S. epidermidis were embedded in a mucous-like matrix. In addition, the LCSM examination showed that the biofilm consisted of the polysaccharide stained bright green fluorescence and S. epidermidis radiating red fluorescence. Thus, we successfully create a rabbit model for prosthetic joint infection and biofilm formation, which should be valuable for biofilm studies.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100043, China

    Cheng-Bing Chu & Hong Zeng

  2. Department of Microbiology, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China

    Ding-Xia Shen

  3. School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Hui Wang & Fu-Zhai Cui

  4. Department of Orthopedics, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, 100853, China

    Ji-Fang Wang

Authors
  1. Cheng-Bing Chu
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  2. Hong Zeng
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  3. Ding-Xia Shen
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  4. Hui Wang
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  5. Ji-Fang Wang
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Correspondence to Cheng-Bing Chu or Fu-Zhai Cui.

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Chu, CB., Zeng, H., Shen, DX. et al. A new rabbit model of implant-related biofilm infection: development and evaluation. Front. Mater. Sci. 10, 80–89 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-016-0324-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11706-016-0324-1

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