title: The Natural Surfactant Glycerol Monolaurate Significantly Reduces Development of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis Biofilms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bacterial biofilms are involved in a large proportion of clinical infections, including device-related infections. Unfortunately, biofilm-associated bacteria are typically less susceptible to antibiotics, and infected devices must often be removed. On the basis of a recent observation that lipid-rich biofilm matrix material is present in early biofilm formation and may protect a population of bacteria from interacting with ordinarily diffusible small molecules, we hypothesized that surfactants may be useful in preventing biofilm development.
  
  
  METHODS
  Experimental Staphylococcus aureus or Enterococcus faecalis biofilms were cultivated on surgical suture suspended in a growth medium supplemented with the natural surfactant glycerol monolaurate (GML) or with a component molecule, lauric acid. After 16 h incubation, the numbers of viable biofilm-associated bacteria were measured by standard microbiologic techniques and biofilm biomass was measured using the colorimetric crystal violet assay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both GML and lauric acid were effective in inhibiting biofilm development as measured by decreased numbers of viable biofilm-associated bacteria as well as decreased biofilm biomass. Compared with lauric acid on a molar basis, GML represented a more effective inhibitor of biofilms formed by either S. aureus or E. faecalis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because the natural surfactant GML inhibited biofilm development, resulting data were consistent with the hypothesis that lipids may play an important role in biofilm growth, implying that interfering with lipid formation may help control development of clinically relevant biofilms.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis.|2 Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis.
authors.forename: Donavon J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hess
authors.affiliation: 3 Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis.
authors.forename: Michelle J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Henry-Stanley
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Surgery, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis.|3 Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis.
authors.forename: Carol L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Wells
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D013293:Enterococcus faecalis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D007848:Laurates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050178:Monoglycerides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D013501:Surface-Active Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013537:Sutures / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D007848:Laurates; D050178:Monoglycerides; D013501:Surface-Active Agents; C020777:monolaurin