Development of Candida albicans and C. albicans/Escherichia coli/Bacteroides fragilis intraperitoneal abscess models with demonstration of fungus-induced bacterial translocation

The development of models of both Candida albicans and mixed C. albicans/Escherichia coli/Bacillus fragilis peritonitis in immunologically normal mice are described, each with significant mortality and intra-abdominal abscess formation. C. albicans inoculated alone induced bacterial translocation into abscesses, and the addition of bacteria reduced the number of, but did not eliminate, C. albicans in abscesses. There was no synergy seen between fungi and bacteria in terms of either morbidity or mortality.