Characterizing the in vitro biofilm phenotype of Staphylococcus epidermidis isolates from central venous catheters.

Abstract

Central venous catheter (CVC)-related infections are commonly caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis that is able to form a biofilm on the catheter surface. Many studies involving biofilm formation by Staphylococcus have been published each adopting an own in vitro model. Since the capacity to form a biofilm depends on multiple environmental factors, direct comparison of results obtained in different studies remains challenging. This study characterized the phenotype (strong versus weak biofilm-producers) of S. epidermidis from CVCs in four different in vitro biofilm models, covering differences in material type (glass versus polymer) and nutrient presentation (static versus continuous flow). A good correlation in phenotype was obtained between glass and polymeric surfaces independent of nutrient flow, with 85% correspondence under static growth conditions and 80% under dynamic conditions. A 80% correspondence between static and dynamic conditions on polymeric surfaces could be demonstrated as well. Incubation time had a significant influence on the biofilm phenotype with only 55% correspondence between the dynamic models at different incubation times (48h versus 17h). Screening for the presence of biofilm-related genes only revealed that ica A was correlated with biofilm formation under static but not under dynamic conditions. In conclusion, this study highlights that a high level of standardization is necessary to interpret and compare results of different in vitro biofilm models.

• Authors: Marian Van Kerckhoven, An Hotterbeekx, Ellen Lanckacker, Pieter Moons, Christine Lammens, Monique Kerstens, Margareta Ieven, Peter Delputte, Philippe G Jorens, Surbhi Malhotra-Kumar, Herman Goossens, Louis Maes, Paul Cos
• Journal: Journal of microbiological methods (J Microbiol Methods) Vol. 127 Pg. 95-101 (08 2016) ISSN: 1872-8359 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 27196636 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Topics

• Biofilms
• Central Venous Catheters (microbiology)
• Humans
• Phenotype
• Staphylococcus epidermidis (isolation & purification, physiology)