Advances in Microbial Biofilm Prevention on Indwelling Medical Devices with Emphasis on Usage of Acoustic Energy

Abstract

Microbial biofilms are a major impediment to the use of indwelling medical devices, generating device-related infections with high morbidity and mortality. Major efforts directed towards preventing and eradicating the biofilm problem face difficulties because biofilms protect themselves very effectively by producing a polysaccharide coating, reducing biofilm sensitivity to antimicrobial agents. Techniques applied to combating biofilms have been primarily chemical. These have met with partial and limited success rates, leading to current trends of eradicating biofilms through physico-mechanical strategies. Here we review the different approaches that have been developed to control biofilm formation and removal, focusing on the utilization of acoustic energy to achieve these objectives.

Sensing performance of fibronectin-functionalized Au-EGFET on the detection of S. epidermidis biofilm and 16S rRNA of infection-related bacteria in peritoneal dialysis

“…Prolonged catheter implantation and placement expose patients to the risk of microbial infection and biofilm formation that not only extends the hospitalization but also leads to an increase in mortality [1,2]. For example, peritonitis caused by infection of the Tenckhoff catheter and exit-site infections (ESI) is one of the main causes of technique failure and mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients [3][4][5][6][7].…”

Electrical methods of controlling bacterial adhesion and biofilm on device surfaces

“…Novel efforts have been made to combat device-related bacterial infections by using acoustic energy at specific frequencies to either prevent biofilm formation on surfaces or to mechanically compromise the structures of existing biofilms [85,86]. Acoustic energy holds a number of key advantages over other methods as it can prove an effective means of bypassing the conditioning-film and hence preventing any surface adhesion occurring in the first place since the mechanical disruptions render any firm surface attachment much more difficult.…”

Sound Waves Effectively Assist Tobramycin in Elimination of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Biofilms In vitro

“…However, preliminary studies conducted by Dror et al 2009 on sheep trachea to evaluate the use of acoustic waves in preventing intratracheal biofilm formation noted the complexity of applying this concept (58). Further investigations on optimization of vibration therapy within the spectrum of sound waves will greatly assist biofilm control in devastating infections in living being.…”

“…According to data reported here and in previous studies, optimal biofilm elimination is highly dependent on different types of acoustic energy, varying in both frequency and intensity. Thus, the levels of vibration energy applied may play crucial roles in the outcomes of treating existing biofilms (58).…”