Inflammatory modulation and outer membrane vesicles (OMV) production associated to Bacteroides fragilis response to subinhibitory concentrations of metronidazole during experimental infection.

Objective: An experimental infection based on a tissue cage model was reproduced to evaluate the interference subinhibitory concentration (SIC) of metronidazole in Bacteroides fragilis OMV production patterns and immunological and histological characteristics of the host facing the experimental challenge.

Methods: A tissue cage model was reproduced for B. fragilis experimental challenge in three Wistar rats groups: negative control group (NC) without bacterial inoculation; positive control group (PC) infected with parental strain; and experimental group (EG) infected with the parental strain and treated with metronidazole SIC.