Study of the efficacy of Coated VICRYL Plus® Antibacterial suture (coated Polyglactin 910 suture with Triclosan) in two animal models of general surgery

Objectives: To evaluate the efficacy in vitro and in vivo of a new antibacterial suture (PGAB) compared with a traditional braided suture (PG). Our primary goats were to study microbiological effectiveness and impact on wound heating of PGAB vs PG. Secondary goal was to analyze influence on inflammatory response. Methods: In vitro study: clinical samples of Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus, S. hominis, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus auricularis, Enterococcus faecalis, Corynebacterium spp. and Escherichia coli were studied. We also implanted a flat mesh in 10 minipigs, four incisions each (two PG and two PGAB) two contaminated with S. epidermidis and two not contaminated. Finally, we performed four colic anastomosis in each of 10 minipigs, two contaminated with E. coli and two not contaminated (two PG and two PGAB). We studied the inflammatory and wound heating processes in both models. Results: We observed a bactericidal efficacy of PGAB against grampositive, and bacteriostatic effect against E. coli. Mesh study: recovered CFU were lower in the group PGAB vs PG. In the group PGAB, inflammatory mediators' concentrations were tower. In the group PGAB, concentrations of wound heating mediators were normal. Colic anastomosis: recovered CFU were lower in the group PGAB vs the group PG. In the group PGAB we observed a reduction of inflammatory mediators. In the group PGAB we observed normalized concentrations of wound heating mediators. Conclusions: This study demonstrates microbiological efficacy of PGAB, that normalizes wound heating process, and an anti-inflammatory effect. (C) 2006 The British Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.