PREVENTION OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI K1 BACTEREMIA IN NEWBORN MICE BY USING TOPICAL VAGINAL CARBOHYDRATES

Pregnant Swiss-Webster mice were vaginally inoculated with 5 × 104 Escherichia coliKl strain LH (075:Kl:H3) or C94 (07:Kl:H-). Inhibitor solutions were applied vaginally before delivery and the incidence of bacteremia and surface colonization determined in neonates at 3 days of age. E. coli Kl strain LH resulted in bacteremia in 77% and colonization in 74% of control newborn mice. After topical maternal vaginal n-mannose treatment, bacteremia and colonization were present in 25% of neonates. Topical vaginal application of a subinhibitory concentration of gentamicin reduced bacteremia to 23% of neonates. Topical methyl-α-D-mannoside and p-nitrophenyl-D-mannoside, however, prevented bacteremia in 100% of newborn mice. A neonatal meningitis strain of E. coli Kl (C94) caused bacteremia in 100% of neonates and was also completely inhibited by methyl-c-n-mannoside. This technique of vaginal treatment before delivery may have applicability to human mothers and their infants. © 1990, by The University of Chicago.