title: Potential use of targeted enzymatic agents in the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-related infections.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus is a leading cause of healthcare-associated infections. The ability of S. aureus to attach and subsequently accumulate on the surfaces of implanted medical devices and in host tissues makes infections caused by this pathogen difficult to treat. Current treatments have been shown to have limited effect on surface-associated S. aureus, and may be enhanced by the addition of a dispersal agent. This study assessed the enzymatic agents dispersin B, lysostaphin, alpha amylase, V8 protease and serrapeptase, alone and in combination with vancomycin and rifampicin, against biofilms formed by meticillin-resistant and -susceptible strains of S. aureus. The efficacy of both antibiotics was enhanced when combined with any of the dispersal agents. Lysostaphin and serrapeptase were the most effective dispersal agents against all strains tested. These data indicate that combinations of biofilm dispersal agents and antibiotics may extend the therapeutic options for the treatment of S. aureus biofilm-associated infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zapotoczna
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: N T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Stevens
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; Department of Microbiology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Humphreys
authors.affiliation: Microbiology, School of Natural Sciences, National University of Ireland, Galway, Ireland.
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: O'Gara
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin 9, Ireland; Department of Microbiology, Connolly Hospital, Dublin 15, Ireland. Electronic address: eoneill@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: O'Neill
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004798:Enzymes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004798:Enzymes
keywords: Biofilm; Catheter; Enzyme; S. aureus