Using bacteriophages to reduce formation of catheter-associated biofilms by Staphylococcus epidermidis.
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 degrees C prior to biofilm formation. The untreated mean biofilm cell count was 7.01+/-0.47 log CFU/cm2 of catheter. Bacteriophage treatment with and without supplemental divalent cations resulted in log-CFU/cm2 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/cm2 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.
Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail Stop C-16, 1600 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
John J
JJ
Curtin
Rodney M
RM
Donlan
D018441:Biofilms; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013204:Staphylococcus Phages / Q000502:physiology*; D013212:Staphylococcus epidermidis / Q000254:growth & development*