MICROBIAL COLONIZATION OF PROSTHETIC DEVICES .1. MICROTOPOGRAPHICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF INTRAVENOUS CATHETERS AS DETECTED BY SCANNING ELECTRON-MICROSCOPY
Ten commercially available unused i.v. catheters were investigated by scanning EM (SEM). Different types of irregularities in the external and internal surface were detected in all catheters examined. Representative examples were demonstrated in 6 SEM photos. The possible role of such irregularities in favoring bacterial attachment to catheter surfaces was discussed.