In vitro study of bacterial adherence to processed dura mater, processed pericardium, pericardium in saline, and human sclera.

Purpose: To study bacterial adherence to processed dura mater, processed pericardium, pericardium in saline, and human sclera and the difference in bacterial adherence to these tissues.

Setting: Research Laboratory, Loyola University Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois, USA.

Methods: Specimens of processed dura mater, processed human pericardium, pericardium in saline, and human sclera (N = 32) were exposed to Staphylococcus epidermidis (concentration 3 x 10(8)) for 10, 20, 40, and 60 minutes, washed for 5 seconds, fixed, and processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM).