Specificity of Adsorption in a Prototype Whole Blood Affinity Therapy Device for Removal of Staphylococcus aureus

摘要

Bacterial removal by the anti-thrombogenic heparin media was much greater for MRSA, which binds to soluble heparin, relative to P. aeruginosa which does not. The (thrombogenic) control media also bound some MRSA non-specifically. A very long list of pathogens and toxins have been reported to bind to soluble heparin and heparan sulfate. This indicates a.) the breadth of adsorbates that may be removed from whole blood by 'immobilized heparin affinity therapy' and b.) its potential utility as a clinical treatment for bacteremia, particularly when caused by drug-resistant organisms, or when no alternative treatments are available.