Anti‐biofilm activity of sub‐inhibitory povidone‐iodine concentrations against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Biomaterial-related infections continue to hamper the success of reconstructive and arthroplasty procedures in orthopaedic surgery. Staphylococci are the most common etiologic agents, with biofilm formation representing a major virulence factor. Biofilms increase bacterial resistance to antimicrobial agents and host immune responses. In staphylococci, production of polysaccharide intercellular adhesin (PIA) by the enzyme products of the icaADBC operon is the best understood mechanism of biofilm development, making the ica genes a potential target for biofilm inhibitors. In this study we report that the antibacterial agent povidone-iodine (PI) also has anti-biofilm activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis and Staphylococcus aureus at sub-inhibitory concentrations (p < 0.001). Inhibition of biofilm by PI correlated with decreased transcription of the icaADBC operon, which in turn correlated with activation of the icaR transcriptional repressor in Staphylococcus epidermidis. These data reveal an additional therapeutic benefit of PI and suggest that studies to evaluate suitability of PI as biomaterial coating agent to reduce device-related infections are merited. Despite improvements in orthopaedic surgery over the last three decades, deep infections continue to hamper the success of reconstructive and arthroplasty procedures. Prosthetic joint infection is associated with significant morbidity and sometimes mortality of the individual. It also represents a tremendous economic burden to healthcare institutions and the general public as a whole.

Activity of Gallidermin on Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilms

“…Hydroxypropyltrimethyl ammonium chloride chitosan inhibits biofilm formation as well as expression of the icaA gene (40). Providone iodine also inhibits biofilm formation and decreases transcription of the ica operon (38). The effects of natural antibacterial agents, such as berberine, carvacrol, farnesol, oregano, rhodomyrtone, and thymol, against staphylococcal biofilms have been frequently reported (24,37,47,54).…”

Context-dependent symbioses and their potential roles in wildlife diseases

“…Staphylococcus epidermidis is a very common member of the human skin microbiota [53], and is thought to usually act as a mutualist, preventing pathogen colonization both directly by antibiotic production [54] and indirectly by 'priming' the immune system to deal with other microbes [53]. It is now recognized as a common and critically important cause of nosocomial infections [55]; the mutualism can become virulent pathogenesis when S. epidermidis gains access to internal tissues [53,56]. Similarly, the bacterium Parachlamydia acanthamoebae is normally an endosymbiont of the amoeba Acanthamoeba polyphaga, which inhabits the human nasal cavity.…”

Clinical investigation of biofilm in non-healing wounds by high resolution microscopy techniques

“…In addition, although in vitr o studies have shown that both silver and iodine wound dressings have some ability to kill bacteria in biofilm, the body of evidence is inconsistent. 14–19 It is increasingly recognised that there remains a pressing need to reliably translate laboratory data into the clinical setting due to the potential impact of many clinical variables on sustained dressing antimicrobial action and availability. Fig 1a shows what is most likely to be the green pigment indicative of pyocyanin produced within a Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm growing on a metallic silver foam saturated with wound exudate.…”