Rat Jugular Catheter Model of Biofilm-Mediated Infection

Staphylococcus epidermidis is now recognized as the primary cause of nosocomial catheter-mediated infections. Bacteria may be introduced exogenously via contamination of the catheter hub or insertion site and endogenously from sepsis. The in vivo model described in this chapter examines the infection resulting from hematogenous seeding of jugular vein catheters.