Open AccessEnhancement of Vancomycin Activity against Biofilms by Using Ultrasound-Targeted Microbubble Destruction
Author(s) -
Na He,
Jian Hu,
Huayong Liu,
Tao Zhu,
Beijian Huang,
Xueqin Wang,
Yang Wu,
Wenping Wang,
Di Qu
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.00542-11
Subject(s) - biofilm , vancomycin , staphylococcus epidermidis , microbiology and biotechnology , in vivo , antibiotics , chemistry , bacteria , medicine , staphylococcus aureus , biology , genetics
Treating biofilm infections on implanted medical devices is formidable, even with extensive antibiotic therapy. The aim of this study was to investigate whether ultrasound (US)-targeted microbubble (MB) destruction (UTMD) could enhance vancomycin activity againstStaphylococcus epidermidis RP62A biofilms. Twelve-hour biofilms were treated with vancomycin combined with UTMD. The vancomycin and MB (SonoVue) were used at concentrations of 100 μg/ml and 30% (vol/vol), respectively, in studiesin vitro . After US exposure (0.08 MHz, 1.0 W/cm2 , 50% duty cycle, and 10-min duration), the biofilms were cultured at 37°C for another 12 h. The results showed that many micropores were found in biofilms treated with vancomycin combined with UTMD. Biofilm densities (A 570 values) and the viable counts ofS. epidermidis recovered from the biofilm were significantly decreased compared with those of any other groups. Furthermore, the highest percentage of dead cells was found, using confocal laser scanning microscopy, in the biofilm treated with vancomycin combined with UTMD. The viable counts of bacteria in biofilms in anin vivo rabbit model also confirmed the enhanced effect of vancomycin combined with UTMD. UTMD may have great potential for improving antibiotic activity against biofilm infections.