Kinetics of Pseudomonas aeruginosa adhesion to 304 and 316-L stainless steel: role of cell surface hydrophobicity

Abstract

Fifteen different isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were used to study the kinetics of adhesion to 304 and 316-L stainless steel. Stainless steel plates were incubated with approximately 1.5 x 107 CFU/ml in 0.01 M phosphate-buffered saline (pH 7.4). After the plates were rinsed with the buffer, the number of adhering bacteria was determined by a bioluminescence assay. Measurable adhesion, even to the electropolished surfaces, occurred within 30 s. Bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity, as determined by the bacterial adherence to hydrocarbons test and the contact angle measurement test, was the major parameter influencing the adhesion rate constant for the first 30 min of adhesion. A parabolic relationship between the CAM values and the logarithm of the adhesion rate constants (In k) was established. No correlation between either the salt aggregation or the improved salt aggregation values and the bacterial adhesion rate constants could be found. Since there was no significant correlation between the bacterial electrophoretic mobilities and the In k values, the bacterial cell surface charge seemed of minor importance in the process of adhesion of P. aeruginosa to 304 and 316-L stainless steel.

Multiple drug resistance and strength of attachment to surfaces in Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates

“…In this work, blot succession technique was used to measure the strength of attachment of bacteria to surfaces (Eginton et al 1995;Kim and Silva 2005). Pseudomonas aeruginosa was found to adhere to stainless steel surfaces within 30 s (Vanhaecke et al 1990); therefore, 2-min contact time was used during this study to provide an indication to the ability of isolates to adhere to surfaces. The main component of Pseudomonas biofilm glycocalyx is alginate, which is synthesized under control of algACD gene cluster, that are up-regulated after 15 min of attachment to glass surface (Dunne 2002).…”

Microbial Biofilms: Their Development and Significance for Medical Device—Related Infections

“…Studies have attempted to correlate these cell surface properties in an attempt to predict bacterial adhesion to a wide variety of surfaces, including various polymers, stainless steel, dentin, tooth enamel, glass, meat surfaces, and ceramics. [11][12][13][14]24,25,[42][43][44][45][46] THERAPEUTIC REVIEW…”

The Pseudomonas aeruginosa type IV pilin receptor binding domain functions as an adhesin for both biotic and abiotic surfaces

“…Stainless steel is widely used, particularly in the food sector, and commonly used in hospitals and in medical devices (Hood and Zottola, 1997). P. aeruginosa readily binds to stainless steel (Stanley, 1983;VanHaecke et al ., 1990) to form highly recalcitrant, organized communities known as biofilms (Leake et al ., 1982;Blenkinsopp et al ., 1992;Johansen et al ., 1997). P. aeruginosa biofilms on stainless steel surfaces can serve as a significant hospital reservoir for infection of susceptible patients that include the immunocompromised and burn patients (Tredget et al ., 1992).…”