Biofilm formation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa on ossicular reconstruction prostheses.
OBJECTIVE
Ossicular chain reconstruction may be complicated by prosthesis extrusion. As prostheses are commonly placed in middle ears contaminated with biofilm-forming bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), extrusion may be caused by development of a biofilm on the prosthesis and the host response to this biofilm. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if PA forms biofilm on different ossicular chain reconstruction prostheses to a different degree.


METHODS
Prostheses made of titanium, hydroxylapatite (HA), and plastic (23 each) were cultured with PA in broth for 96 hours. Biofilm formation was assessed by electron microscopy and quantitative microbiology.


RESULTS
Titanium prostheses formed less biofilm than plastic (P = .0003) and HA (P = .003), but there was no difference between HA and plastic. Correction for surface area did not alter these significant differences.


CONCLUSIONS
Pseudomonas aeruginosa forms biofilm on ossicular prostheses, particularly those made of plastic and HA. These differences could, in part, explain the extrusion propensity of certain biomaterials.
Jaryszak
Eric M
EM
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville, FL 32610-0264, USA. eric.jaryszak@ent.ufl.edu
Sampson
Edith M
EM
Antonelli
Patrick J
PJ
D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D004429:Ear Ossicles / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D006882:Hydroxyapatites / Q000737:chemistry; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009998:Ossicular Prosthesis / Q000382:microbiology*; D010035:Otitis Media, Suppurative / Q000382:microbiology / Q000601:surgery; D010969:Plastics / Q000737:chemistry; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry
D006882:Hydroxyapatites; D010969:Plastics; D014025:Titanium