title: The Efficacy of Umbelliferone, Arbutin, and N-Acetylcysteine to Prevent Microbial Colonization and Biofilm Development on Urinary Catheter Surface: Results from a Preliminary Study.
abstract: We evaluated, in a preliminary study, the efficacy of umbelliferone, arbutin, and N-acetylcysteine to inhibit biofilm formation on urinary catheter. We used 20 urinary catheters: 5 catheters were incubated with Enterococcus faecalis (control group); 5 catheters were incubated with E. faecalis in presence of umbelliferone (150 mg), arbutin (60 mg), and N-acetylcysteine (150 mg) (group 1); 5 catheters were incubated with E. faecalis in presence of umbelliferone (150 mg), arbutin (60 mg), and N-acetylcysteine (400 mg) (group 2); and 5 catheters were incubated with E. faecalis in presence of umbelliferone (300 mg), arbutin (60 mg), and N-acetylcysteine (150 mg) (group 3). After 72 hours, planktonic microbial growth and microorganisms on catheter surface were assessed. In the control group, we found a planktonic load of ≥10(5) CFU/mL in the inoculation medium and retrieved 3.69 × 10(6) CFU/cm from the sessile cells adherent to the catheter surface. A significantly lower amount in planktonic (p < 0.001) and sessile (p = 0.004) bacterial load was found in group 3, showing <100 CFU/mL and 0.12 × 10(6) CFU/cm in the incubation medium and on the catheter surface, respectively. In groups 1 and 2, 1.67 × 10(6) CFU/cm and 1.77 × 10(6) CFU/cm were found on catheter surface. Our results document that umbelliferone, arbutin, and N-acetylcysteine are able to reduce E. faecalis biofilm development on the surface of urinary catheters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, 38123 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Tommaso
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; Clinical Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance Unit, Mater Domini University Hospital, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gallelli
authors.affiliation: Sexually Transmitted Diseases Center, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, 50012 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Meacci
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brugnolli
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Verona, 37100 Verona, Italy.
authors.forename: Letizia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Prosperi
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, 38123 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roberta
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, 38123 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Eccher
authors.affiliation: Sexually Transmitted Diseases Center, Santa Maria Annunziata Hospital, 50012 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzoli
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, 38123 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lanzafame
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, 38123 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Patrizio
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Caciagli
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Santa Chiara Regional Hospital, 38123 Trento, Italy.
authors.forename: Gianni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Malossini
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, University of Florence, 50100 Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Riccardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bartoletti