Open AccessUsing Bacteriophages To Reduce Formation of Catheter-Associated Biofilms byStaphylococcus epidermidis
Author(s) -
John J. Curtin,
Rodney M. Donlan
Publication year - 2006
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.50.4.1268-1275.2006
Subject(s) - biofilm , staphylococcus epidermidis , bacteriophage , microbiology and biotechnology , lytic cycle , catheter , chemistry , divalent , staphylococcus aureus , biology , bacteria , virus , medicine , virology , surgery , escherichia coli , biochemistry , genetics , gene , organic chemistry
Use of indwelling catheters is often compromised as a result of biofilm formation. This study investigated if hydrogel-coated catheters pretreated with a coagulase-negative bacteriophage would reduceStaphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation. Biofilms were developed on hydrogel-coated silicone catheters installed in a modified drip flow reactor. Catheter segments were pretreated with the lyticS. epidermidis bacteriophage 456 by exposing the catheter lumen to a 10-log-PFU/ml culture of the bacteriophage for 1 h at 37°C prior to biofilm formation. The untreated mean biofilm cell count was 7.01 ± 0.47 log CFU/cm2 of catheter. Bacteriophage treatment with and without supplemental divalent cations resulted in log-CFU/cm2 reductions of 4.47 (P < 0.0001) and 2.34 (P = 0.001), respectively. Divalent cation supplementation without bacteriophage treatment provided a 0.67-log-CFU/cm2 reduction (P = 0.053). Treatment of hydrogel-coated silicone catheters with anS. epidermidis bacteriophage in an in vitro model system significantly reduced viable biofilm formation byS. epidermidis over a 24-h exposure period, suggesting the potential of bacteriophage for mitigating biofilm formation on indwelling catheters and reducing the incidence of catheter-related infections.