ABSTRACT
Peritoneal cells from rats infected intraperitoneally with Escherichia coli and Bacteroides fragilis, alone or in combination were examined in vitro. Cells were harvested 6 h after implantation of fibrin clots infected with E. coli or B. fragilis, separately or containing both species, and assayed for their bactericidal capacities, chemiluminescence and production of cidal metabolites. Peritoneal cell populations from rats with implants of any of the infected clots showed similar distribution of different subpopulations. Bactericidal activity of peritoneal cells did not differ with the bacterial species used. Chemiluminescence values of peritoneal cells from rats with mono-infected B. fragilis or mixed-infected implanted clots, after stimulation with either particles or chemical stimuli, were significantly higher than those of rats with mono-infected E. coli or sterile clots. The same tendency was seen with regard to the production of cidal metabolites such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anions although no significant differences were found.
