Nosocomial pathogen biofilms on biomaterials

What is it about?

Abstract Background/purpose (s): Nosocomial pathogens can develop biofilms on hospital surfaces and medical devices; however, few studies have focused on the evaluation of mono-and dual-species biofilms developed by nosocomial pathogens under different growth conditions. Methods: This study investigated biofilm development by nosocomial pathogens (Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) on biomaterials in different culture media and their components of the extracellular matrix biofilm. Results: The mono-species biofilms showed cell densities from 7.50 to 9.27 Log10 CFU/cm2 on natural rubber latex type I (NLTI) and from 7.58 to 8.79 Log10 CFU/cm2 on stainless steel (SS). Dual-species biofilms consisted of S. aureus + P. aeruginosa (7.87-8.27 Log10 CFU/cm2 in TSBP and TSBME onto SS; p  0.05), E. coli + P. aeruginosa (8.32 – 8.86 Log10 CFU/cm2 in TSBME onto SS and TSBP onto NLTI; p  0.05), and S. aureus + E. coli (7.82 Log10 CFU/cm2 in TSBME onto SS; p  0.05). Furthermore, biofilm detachment after proteinase K treatment was 5.54-32.81 % compared to 7.95-24.15 % after DNase I treatment in the mono-dual species biofilm matrix. Epifluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) enabled visualizing the bacteria and extracellular polymeric substances of biofilms on SS and NLTI. Conclusion: Nosocomial pathogens can develop biofilms on biomaterials. Mono-species biofilms of Gram-negative bacteria showed lower densities than dual-species biofilms in TSBME and TSBP. Additionally, dual-species biofilms showed a higher concentration of proteins and eDNA in the extracellular matrix.

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Why is it important?

The improved understanding of the physiology of mono-dual species biofilms formed by nosocomial pathogens to biomaterial-surface and of the EPS that make up the matrix of the biofilms can facilitate the development of methods for new therapeutic strategies preventing or interrupting colonization of patients, inanimate surfaces, and HCWs to control infection