| Skin injuries are vulnerable to Staphylococcus aureus infections in nosocomial environments and may result in suppuration of wounds, systemic disease and toxic shock. An in vitro wound model was developed using Sykes-Moore chambers composed of biomaterials used for wound treatment (1% alginate, dialyzed "Hyfil" hydrogel, "Zyderm II" collagen) and a fibroblast cell line. The chambers were inoculated with S. aureus and antibiotics were introduced through in situ microdialysis tubing. Fluid and biomaterial samples were obtained at 0, 2, 8, 24 h and analyzed for S. aureus protein A secretion, S. aureus concentration and fibroblast viability. Chambers containing each biomaterial were compared. There was an inverse relationship between post-infection S. aureus concentration and fibroblast survival. Staphylococcus aureus and protein A concentrations were related, but may have been obscured due to differential interactions between protein A and the biomaterials. |
