Biofilm detection with hematoxylin-eosin staining.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate that hematoxylin-eosin staining can be used to detect the presence of bacterial biofilm in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS).


METHODS
A prospective study.


METHODS
The University of Southern California University Hospital and the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles.


METHODS
A total of 34 patients: 24 undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery for CRS and 10 undergoing septoplasty with or without turbinate reduction with no history of sinusitis, were enrolled in the study.


METHODS
Contiguous sections from patient samples were examined by both hematoxylin-eosin staining and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with the bacterial-specific probe EUB338 for evidence of bacterial biofilm.


RESULTS
Biofilm was detected by hematoxylin-eosin staining in 15 of 24 patients with CRS and 1 of 10 control patients. In all cases, hematoxylin-eosin staining was found to be an accurate predictor of the presence or absence of biofilm using FISH as a control standard.


CONCLUSIONS
Hematoxylin-eosin staining of surgical specimens is a reliable and available method for the detection of bacterial biofilm in chronic infectious disease.
Hochstim
Christian J
CJ
Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90033, USA.
Choi
Judy Yujin
JY
Lowe
Derek
D
Masood
Rizwan
R
Rice
Dale H
DH
D018441:Biofilms; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004724:Endoscopy; D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012220:Rhinitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D012852:Sinusitis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000601:surgery; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
D004801:Eosine Yellowish-(YS); D006416:Hematoxylin