Role of inoculation site as a determinant of infection in soft tissue wounds.

Summary The purpose of this study was to develop an experimental model for evaluating the role of the inoculation site as a determinant of infection in soft tissue wounds. In addition, the effects of a foreign body, a local anesthetic agent, and a vasoactive drug on the inoculation site's resistance to infection were ascertained. The infection rates of tongue, fat, muscle, and skin after inoculation with Staph aureus or E coli were proportional to the size of the bacterial inoculum. The ability of these tissues to resist infection did not differ significantly. The resistance of the inoculation site to infection was not impaired by the presence of liquid silicone or lidocaine hydrochloride. In contrast, concentrated solutions of epinephrine potentiated the development of infection.