The Antibacterial Activity of Acetic Acid against Biofilm-Producing Pathogens of Relevance to Burns Patients.
BACKGROUND
Localised infections, and burn wound sepsis are key concerns in the treatment of burns patients, and prevention of colonisation largely relies on biocides. Acetic acid has been shown to have good antibacterial activity against various planktonic organisms, however data is limited on efficacy, and few studies have been performed on biofilms.


OBJECTIVE
We sought to investigate the antibacterial activity of acetic acid against important burn wound colonising organisms growing planktonically and as biofilms.


METHODS
Laboratory experiments were performed to test the ability of acetic acid to inhibit growth of pathogens, inhibit the formation of biofilms, and eradicate pre-formed biofilms.


RESULTS
Twenty-nine isolates of common wound-infecting pathogens were tested. Acetic acid was antibacterial against planktonic growth, with an minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.16-0.31% for all isolates, and was also able to prevent formation of biofilms (at 0.31%). Eradication of mature biofilms was observed for all isolates after three hours of exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides evidence that acetic acid can inhibit growth of key burn wound pathogens when used at very dilute concentrations. Owing to current concerns of the reducing efficacy of systemic antibiotics, this novel biocide application offers great promise as a cheap and effective measure to treat infections in burns patients.
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom; NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Fenella D
FD
Halstead
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom; NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Maryam
M
Rauf
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Birmingham Children's Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom; The Healing Foundation Burns Research Centre, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Naiem S
NS
Moiemen
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom; The Healing Foundation Burns Research Centre, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Amy
A
Bamford
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom; The Healing Foundation Burns Research Centre, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Christopher M
CM
Wearn
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Adam P
AP
Fraise
Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Peter A
PA
Lund
Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom; NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Beryl A
BA
Oppenheim
NIHR Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, United Kingdom; Institute of Microbiology and Infection, School of Biosciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, United Kingdom.
Mark A
MA
Webber
D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002056:Burns / Q000382:microbiology*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013997:Time Factors; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
D004202:Disinfectants; D019342:Acetic Acid