In vitro susceptibility of high virulence microorganisms isolated in heart valve banking.

ABSTRACT

Storage preparation of human heart valves for implants generally includes incubation in an antimicrobial disinfection solution and cryopreservation. Changes in patterns of microorganisms susceptibility to antibiotics is a variable process of that promote its inefficiency. The aim of this study has been an evaluation of in vitro susceptibility of high virulence microorganisms isolated in our tissue bank for 14 years in order to evaluate the efficiency, and to promote changes for further antibiotics mixtures as well. Data presented in this study show that microorganisms isolates in valve banking display susceptibility patterns similar to those shown in other clinical circumstances, and the most commonly used antibiotics regimes are useful to date. An antibiotic cocktail containing aminoglicoside in addition to ciprofloxacin and vancomycin is an efficient mixture to be used in valve banking. Further studies will be necessary for monitoring patterns changes of in vitro susceptibility of microbiological isolates in tissue banking.