title: Biofilm formation of the pathogens of fatal bacterial granuloma after trauma: potential mechanism underlying the failure of traditional antibiotic treatments.
abstract: The pathogen of a new type of disease - fatal bacterial granuloma after trauma (FBGT) - was found to be Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes). Although in vitro studies showed that the pathogenic P. acnes are sensitive to conventional antibiotics, treatments of FBGT patients with these antibiotics were ineffective. The underlying mechanisms were not clear. Since P. acnes are able to form biofilm on orthopaedic biomaterials in vitro, and pathogenic P. acnes of acnes vulgaris was known to form biofilm in vivo, we hypothesize that the pathogens of FBGT are also able to form biofilm during the pathogenesis, which may be 1 of the reasons for antibiotics tolerance of FBGT. Biofilm forming capacity of the pathogens of FBGT were examined with XTT reduction method, as well as with scanning electron microscope. The effect of long-term subminimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) lincomycin on the biofilm forming ability of the pathogens was also tested. Our results show that both the type strain (NCTC737) and the pathogenic P. acnes of FBGT can form biofilm in vitro. These data demonstrated the biofilm formation of the FBGT pathogens in vitro, and its acceleration by lincomycin, which may be 1 of the major mechanisms for the failure of antibiotic treatment.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dermatology, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, PR China.
authors.forename: Xianlong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Dongjie
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Wenbin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Chunying
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiuli
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Tianwen
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D004318:Doxycycline / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D006099:Granuloma / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008034:Lincomycin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D008034:Lincomycin; D004318:Doxycycline