title: Bacteriophage K for reduction ofStaphylococcus aureusbiofilm on central venous catheter material.
abstract: The purpose of this project was to determine whether bacteriophage can reduce bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on central venous catheter material. Twenty silicone discs were inoculated for 24 h with broth culture of Methicillin sensitivestaphylococcus aureus(0.5 McFarland standard). The inoculate was aspirated and discs placed into two equal groups for 24 h: (1) untreated controls; (2) bacteriophage treatment (staphylococcalbacteriophage K, propagated titer > 108). At the completion of the experiment discs were processed for quantitative culture. Statistical testing was performed using the rank sum test. Mean colony forming units (CFU) were significantly decreased in experimental compared with controls (control 6.3 × 105CFU, experimental 6.7 × 101,P≤ 0.0001). Application of bacteriophage to biofilm infected central venous catheter material significantly reduced bacterial colonization and biofilm presence. Our data suggests that bacteriophage treatment may be a feasible strategy for addressing central venous catheter staph aureus biofilm infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology; Duke University Medical Center; Duke University; Durham, NC USA.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lungren
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Christensen
authors.forename: Ravi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kankotia
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Falk
authors.forename: Ben E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Paxton
authors.forename: Charles Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Kim
keywords: bacteriophage k; biofilm; central venous catheters; phage therapy; staph aureus