Iranian Journal of Microbiology (Dec 2009)
Antibiofilm activities of certain biocides in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Abstract
Background and objectives: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen that can produce biofilm. Biofilm is a complex, three dimensional structure in which microorganisms are attached to a surface and embedded in a matrix made of extracellular polymers. Due to high resistance to antimicrobial agents, biofilms create difficulties in various situations in healthcare. In this study, antibiofilm activities of some biocides in P. aeruginosa were studied. Materials and methods: The biofilm production ability of P. aeruginosa strain 214 (a clinical isolate) was determined in the presence of six biocides including of ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA), silver nitrate (AgNO3), bismuth ethanedithiol (BisEDT), bismuth dimercaprol (BisBAL), bismuth-2-mercaptoethanol (BisMEO) and bismuth propanedithiol (BisPDT) using the modified microtiter plate method. Bactericidal activity of the biocides against biofilm and planktonic cells was investigated. In this study, permeation of biocides through alginate layer was evaluated with a sandwich cup method. Results: The results demonstrated that in the presence of bismuth thiols, biofilm production in MIC and sub MIC concentrations was considerably inhibited. Bismuththiols had lower antibiofilm bactericidal activity than EDTA and silver nitrate. One possible mechanism of biofilm resistance is exopolysaccharide production which prevents the access of antimicrobial agents to cells inside the biofilm. Bismuth thiols could not penetrate, while EDTA and silver nitrate had high penetration rate. Conclusions: Due to the frequent use of silver nitrate and EDTA in various applications, low efficacy in the inhibition of biofilm production, unstudied toxicity of BTs for humans and high efficacy in the inhibition of biofilm production, it is suggested that combinatory effect of BTs with silver nitrate or EDTA on biofilms and biofilm production be investigated.
