title: Beta -1,3 glucan as a test for central venous catheter biofilm infection.
abstract: Biofilms are microbial communities that are associated with solid surfaces such as intravascular catheters. Candida species are a major cause of medical device-associated infections. Twenty percent to 70% of all candidemias are associated with this biofilm process. Diagnosis and effective treatment of Candida device-associated infections requires removal of the involved device. The ability to identify a biofilm device infection before catheter removal may obviate removal of a substantial number of devices. Prior studies in our laboratory identified cell wall changes (specifically, increased beta -1,3 glucan) associated with biofilm, compared with planktonic C. albicans. Both in vitro and in vivo (catheter) biofilm models were used to determine whether biofilm cells secreted more beta -1,3 glucan and whether these differences could be used to discern the presence of a Candida biofilm infection with 3 species (C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. parapsilosis). A limulus lysate assay was used to quantify beta -1,3 glucan in supernatants from planktonic or biofilm cultures and in the serum of rats with an intravascular catheter biofilm infection or disseminated candidiasis. beta -1,3 glucan was detected from both in vitro and in vivo models from each condition. However, the concentrations of beta -1,3 glucan from the biofilm conditions were 4-10-fold greater in vitro (P<.001) and were 10-fold greater in vivo (P<.001), despite equal or fewer numbers of cells in the biofilm conditions. These results suggest the secreted polysaccharide beta -1,3 glucan may serve as a useful tool for the diagnosis of Candida biofilm and device-associated infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53792, USA.
authors.forename: Jeniel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nett
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lincoln
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marchillo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Andes
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002175:Candida / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D041221:Candida glabrata / Q000737:chemistry / Q000254:growth & development; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D006801:Humans; D008033:Limulus Test; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D051381:Rats; D047071:beta-Glucans / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D047071:beta-Glucans; C033363:beta-1,3-glucan