Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (May 2023)

The value of biofilm testing to guide antimicrobial stewardship in chronic respiratory diseases

  • Laia Fernández-Barat,
  • Laia Fernández-Barat,
  • Nil Vázquez Burgos,
  • Nil Vázquez Burgos,
  • Victoria Alcaraz,
  • Victoria Alcaraz,
  • Leticia Bueno-Freire,
  • Leticia Bueno-Freire,
  • Ruben López-Aladid,
  • Ruben López-Aladid,
  • Roberto Cabrera,
  • Roberto Cabrera,
  • Albert Gabarrús,
  • Albert Gabarrús,
  • Andrea Palomeque,
  • Andrea Palomeque,
  • Patricia Oscanoa,
  • Patricia Oscanoa,
  • Adrian Ceccato,
  • Adrian Ceccato,
  • Ana Motos,
  • Ana Motos,
  • Rosanel Amaro,
  • Rosanel Amaro,
  • Thierry Bernardi,
  • Thierry Bernardi,
  • Christian Provot,
  • Christian Provot,
  • Alba Soler-Comas,
  • Alba Soler-Comas,
  • Laura Muñoz,
  • Jordi Vila,
  • Antoni Torres,
  • Antoni Torres

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1142274
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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IntroductionBiofilm production is an important yet currently overlooked aspect of diagnostic microbiology that has implications for antimicrobial stewardship. In this study, we aimed to validate and identify additional applications of the BioFilm Ring Test® (BRT) for Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) isolates from patients with bronchiectasis (BE).Materials and methodsSputa were collected from BE patients who had at least one PA positive culture in the previous year. We processed the sputa to isolate both mucoid and non-mucoid PA, and determined their susceptibility pattern, mucA gene status, and presence of ciprofloxacin mutations in QRDR genes. The Biofilm production index (BPI) was obtained at 5 and 24 hours. Biofilms were imaged using Gram staining.ResultsWe collected 69 PA isolates, including 33 mucoid and 36 non-mucoid. A BPI value below 14.75 at 5 hours predicted the mucoid PA phenotype with 64% sensitivity and 72% specificity.ConclusionOverall, our findings suggest that the fitness-cost associated with the mucoid phenotype or ciprofloxacin resistance is shown through a time-dependent BPI profile. The BRT has the potential to reveal biofilm features with clinical implications.

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