Using Bacteriophages To Reduce Formation of Catheter-Associated Biofilms byStaphylococcus epidermidis

Abstract

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 reduce Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation. Biofilms were developed on hydrogel-coated silicone catheters installed in a modified drip flow reactor. Catheter segments were pretreated with the lytic S. 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/cm 2 of catheter. Bacteriophage treatment with and without supplemental divalent cations resulted in log-CFU/cm 2 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/cm 2 reduction (P ‫؍‬ 0.053). Treatment of hydrogel-coated silicone catheters with an S. epidermidis bacteriophage in an in vitro model system significantly reduced viable biofilm formation by S. 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.

Fluorescence Correlation Spectroscopy To Study Diffusion and Reaction of Bacteriophages inside Biofilms

“…The emergence of pathogenic bacteria resistant to antimicrobial agents has highlighted the need for alternative means to treat human and animal bacterial infections. In this context, there are new prospects for phage therapy in the form of the application or ingestion of phage particles as an alternative to antibiotics (1,11,14,21,32,35,41,48,51). A recent major breakthrough for phage therapy was the approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of a cocktail of bacteriophages as a treatment for Listeria monocytogenes contamination in ready-to-eat meat and poultry products (5).…”

Bacteriophage K for reduction ofStaphylococcus aureusbiofilm on central venous catheter material

“…20 Briefly the discs were rinsed gently in sterile PBS and placed into a tube containing 10 ml of PBS and subjected to three alternating 30 s cycles of water bath sonication (45 kHZ, Branson Water Bath Sonicator) and vortexing. The resulting biofilm suspension was diluted in Butterfield buffer, spread plated on Blood agar, incubated for 48 h at 37 °C and counted.…”

“…[16][17][18] Phage therapy has also been proposed to be used against multidrug-resistant bacteria, and may reduce the use of antimicrobial drugs and the spread of antimicrobial resistance. 9,15,[17][18][19][20][21] Despite the potential advantages of phage therapy, only a few studies have concentrated on its direct application toward biofilm control and treatment. Prior investigations suggest that the application of bacteriophage to indwelling medical devices, such as intravascular catheters, could provide a strategy for the reduction in biofilm formation by clinically relevant bacteria such as Staphylococcus.…”

“…Prior investigations suggest that the application of bacteriophage to indwelling medical devices, such as intravascular catheters, could provide a strategy for the reduction in biofilm formation by clinically relevant bacteria such as Staphylococcus. 19,20 The purpose of this study was to evaluate bacteriophage antimicrobial therapy application for eliminating Staphylococcus aureus biofilm on central venous catheter material.…”

Biofilms: A Survival and Resistance Mechanism of Microorganisms

“…It has been demonstrating its effectiveness with the use of bacteriophage T4, which can infect and replicate in Escherichia coli breaking up the morphology of the biofilm and killing the bacteria, or in the case of phage 456 on S. epidermidis. (Curtin & Donlan, 2006). A bacteriophage expressing enzymes that degrade the biofilm matrix has been designed and simultaneously attack the bacterial cells of Escherichia coli.…”