ANTIBODY TO THE CAPSULAR POLYSACCHARIDE ADHESIN PROTECTS RABBITS AGAINST CATHETER-RELATED BACTEREMIA DUE TO COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI

A rabbit model of catheter-related bacteremia was developed to study immunity to the capsular polysaccharide/adhesin (PS/A) of coagulase-negative staphylococci. Catheters colonized by coagulase-negative staphylococci were inserted into the right jugular vein and attached to a subcutaneous osmotic pump, and blood cultures were obtained over 14 days. Nonimmune rabbits were bacteremic for 6–8 days after infection, hypoglycemic, and hyperlipidemic and had strong immune responses to teichoic acid but not to PS/A. PS/A immunization, but not teichoic acid immunization, reduced the number of bacteremic days by ˜60%, diminished the hypoglycemia and hyperlipidemia, and ablated the immune responses to teichoic acid. Passive infusion of PS/A-specific polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies using a separate, noninfected catheter-pump combination implanted in the left jugular protected against both bacteremia and hematogenous colonization of this contralateral catheter. © 1990, by The University of Chicago.