Back to Search
Start Over
Intestinal Colonization with Enterococcus faecium Does Not Influence Pulmonary Defense against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Mice
- Source :
- PLoS ONE, 4(8). Public Library of Science, PLoS ONE, PLoS ONE, Vol 4, Iss 8, p e6775 (2009), PLoS ONE, 4(8):e6775. Public Library of Science
- Publication Year :
- 2009
- Publisher :
- Public Library of Science, 2009.
-
Abstract
- Background: Enterococci, and especially multiresistant Enterococcus faecium, are increasingly found colonizing hospitalized patients. This increased prevalence of colonization is not only associated with an increased prevalence of infections caused by enterococci, but also by infections with other nosocomial pathogens. In this study we investigated the causality of this observed relationship, by determining the influence of intestinal colonization with E. faecium on pulmonary defense against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Methodology/Principal Findings: Three groups of mice were tested; 2 groups of mice were pre-treated with vancomycin, of which one group was subsequently treated by oral gavage of vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VRE). The third group did not receive any pre-treatment. P. aeruginosa pneumonia was induced in all mice. Vancomycin treatment resulted in intestinal gram-negative bacterial overgrowth and VRE treatment resulted in colonization throughout the intestines. All 3 groups of mice were able to clear P. aeruginosa from the lungs and circulation, with comparable lung cytokine responses and lung damage. Mice treated with vancomycin without VRE colonization displayed modestly increased plasma levels of TNF-alpha and IL-10. Conclusion: Overgrowth of E. faecium and/or gram-negative bacteria does not impact importantly on pulmonary defense against P. aeruginosa pneumonia
- Subjects :
- Gram-negative bacteria
Enterococcus faecium
lcsh:Medicine
Microbiology/Innate Immunity
medicine.disease_cause
Microbiology
Infectious Diseases/Bacterial Infections
Mice
Immune system
medicine
Pneumonia, Bacterial
Animals
Colonization
lcsh:Science
Lung
Multidisciplinary
biology
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
lcsh:R
Infectious Diseases/Nosocomial and Healthcare-Associated Infections
biochemical phenomena, metabolism, and nutrition
biology.organism_classification
medicine.disease
Microbiology/Immunity to Infections
Intestines
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Pneumonia
medicine.anatomical_structure
Immunology
Vancomycin
lcsh:Q
Female
medicine.drug
Research Article
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 19326203
- Volume :
- 4
- Issue :
- 8
- Database :
- OpenAIRE
- Journal :
- PLoS ONE
- Accession number :
- edsair.doi.dedup.....a8f5d2fdb3fbf91bcf063be7fab0a049