title: Treatment of biofilm infections on implants with low-frequency ultrasound and antibiotics.
abstract: Medical implants are sometimes colonized by biofilm-forming bacteria, which are very difficult to treat effectively. The combination of gentamicin and ultrasonic exposure for 24 hours was previously shown to reduce the viability of Escherichia coli biofilms in vivo. This article shows that such treatment for 48 hours reduced viable E coli bacteria to nearly undetectable levels. However, when Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms were implanted and treated for 24 and 48 hours, no significant ultrasonic-enhanced reduction of viable bacteria was observed. The difference in response of these 2 organisms is attributed to greater impermeability and stability of the outer membrane of P aeruginosa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA.
authors.forename: John C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Carmen
authors.forename: Beverly L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Roeder
authors.forename: Jared L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Nelson
authors.forename: Rachel L Robison
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Ogilvie
authors.forename: Richard A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Robison
authors.forename: G Bruce
authors.initials: GB
authors.lastname: Schaalje
authors.forename: William G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Pitt
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005839:Gentamicins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous; D007403:Intervertebral Disc / Q000601:surgery; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000382:microbiology*; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D011817:Rabbits; D014465:Ultrasonics
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D005839:Gentamicins