title: Bacterial adherence and biofilm formation on latex and silicone T-tubes in relation to bacterial contamination of bile.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  T-tube-related bacteriobilia causes infectious complications and obstruction. To prevent these, the choice of T-tube material may be of importance.
  
  
  METHODS
  Transected common bile ducts (CBDs) of 17 piglets were sutured over latex or silicone T-tubes, or without a T-tube.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After 6 weeks bacteriobilia was found in all of 12 CBDs with and in 1 of 5 CBDs without a T-tube (p < 0.05). By scanning electron microscopy (SEM) four of five latex and none of five silicone T-tubes had bacterial biofilms (p < 0.05). All tubes remained patent. Segments of T-tubes were incubated with five different bacterial strains. Sonication and SEM showed that 0.1-1.1% of 10(7) colony-forming units of inoculum adhered to T-tubes. Two to six times more bacteria adhered to latex than to silicone (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Silicone offers better long-term patency than latex. Less infectious complications occur if T-tubes are omitted.
authors.affiliation: Fourth Dept. of Surgery, Helsinki University of Central Hospital, Finland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koivusalo
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mäkisalo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Talja
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Siitonen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vuopio-Varkila
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruutu
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Höckerstedt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D001441:Bacteroides fragilis / Q000502:physiology; D001646:Bile / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000502:physiology; D003135:Common Bile Duct; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000502:physiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007440:Intubation / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007840:Latex; D012828:Silicones; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D012828:Silicones