Oral fluoroquinolone therapy results in drug adsorption on ureteral stents and prevention of biofilm formation.
The oral administration of ciprofloxacin (250mg bid) and ofloxacin (300mg bid) in 40 patients with ureteral stents, led to drug levels on all the device surfaces that were higher than the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of Escherichia coli (0.004--0.015 mg/l), the most common uropathogen. The drug levels in the film were higher than the MIC of other common pathogens, namely Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.25--1.0 mg/l), Enterococcus faecalis (0.25--2.0 mg/l) and Staphylococcus aureus (0.12--0.5 mg/l) in a few cases (six, three and 14 cases out of 40, respectively). For both antibiotics, the concentrations were greater than the MIC of many uropathogens on the film surrounding the devices (0.89 vs 0.31 mg/l respectively, P=0.05), and on the devices themselves (0.22 vs. 0.12 mg/l, P=0.207). Adsorption of the antibiotics was higher to the film than to the stent (P<0.0001). Ciprofloxacin concentration on the film surrounding the stents was significantly higher than that of ofloxacin (P=0.05), while there was no statistical concentration difference between the two antibiotics adsorbed onto the actual devices (P=0.207). No bacteria were found in patients' urine and no biofilms were detected. This is the first report of an oral antibiotic being adsorbed onto medical devices. It potentially provides a new approach of preventing infection, and avoids the need to pre-coat devices with agents whose use will be restricted once bacteria develop resistance to them. If biomaterial properties can be enhanced to increase further the adsorptive concentration of drug, the risk of infections and recalcitrant biofilm formation could be significantly reduced in a highly susceptible patient population.
Reid
G
G
Division of Urology, Lawson Health Research Institute, 268 Grosvenor Street, Ont., N6A 4V2, London, Canada
Habash
M
M
Vachon
D
D
Denstedt
J
J
Riddell
J
J
Beheshti
M
M
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000327:Adsorption; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016905:Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015607:Stents / Q000009:adverse effects; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control*
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000892:Anti-Infective Agents, Urinary; D002939:Ciprofloxacin; D015242:Ofloxacin