Abstract
A modified Robbins Device was used to establish coherent biofilms ofPseudomonas aeruginosa on the surface of catheter material in an artificial urine milieu and the ability of an antibiotic to penetrate the biofilm and kill the enclosed bacteria was assessed. ThePseudomonas aeruginosa strain used had been isolated from a patient with urinary tract infection. Although planktonic (floating) cells of thePseudomonas aeruginosa strain were inhibited by less than 1 mg/l of tobramycin and killed by 50 mg/l, contact with 1,000 mg/l of tobramycin for 12 h failed to kill all the sessile (adherent) bacteria in the biofilms on the surface of the catheter material. Surviving sessile bacteria recovered directly from the exposure to 1,000 mg/l of tobramycin were inhibited by 0.4 mg/l of this agent when tested as dispersed planktonic cells by standard MIC methods. It is suggested that growth within thick adherent biofilms confers upon cells ofPseudomonas aeruginosa a large measure of resistance to aminoglycosides and other antibiotics that may help to explain the frequent failure of antibiotic chemotherapy in catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Geesey, G. G., Mutch, R., Costerton, J. W., Green, R. B.: Sessile bacteria: an important component of the microbial population in small mountain streams. Limnology and Oceanography 1978, 23: 1214–1223.
Costerton, J. W., Irvin, R. T., Cheng, K.-J.: The role of bacterial surface structures in pathogenesis. CRC Critical Reviews in Microbiology 1981, 1: 303–338.
Costerton, J. W., Irvin, R. T., Cheng, K. J.: The bacterial glycocalyx in nature and disease. Annual Review of Microbiology 1981, 35: 299–324.
McCoy, W. F., Costerton, J. W.: Fouling biofilm development in tubular flow systems. Developments in Industrial Microbiology 1982, 23: 551–558.
Ruseska, I., Robbins, J., Costerton, J. W.: Biocide testing against corrosion-causing oilfield bacteria helps control plugging. Oil and Gas Journal 1982, 3: 253–258.
Marrie, T. J., Costerton, J. W.: An electron microscopic study of the prolonged survival ofSerratia marcesiens in chlorhexidine. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 1981, 42: 1093–1102.
Marrie, T. J., Costerton, J. W.: Scanning electron microscopic study of uropathogen adherence to a plastic surface. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 1983, 45: 1018–1024.
Sutherland, I. W.: Surface carbohydrates of the prokaryotic cell. Academic Press, London, 1977, p. 287.
Minuth, J. N., Musher, D. M., Thorsteinsson, S. B.: Inhibition of the antibacterial activity of gentamicin by urine. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1976, 133: 14–21.
Stamey, T. A.: Antimicrobial sensitivity testing and bacterial resistance. In: Stamey, T. A. (ed.): Pathogenesis and treatment of urinary tract infections. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, 1980, p. 52–93.
Spurr, A.: A low viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. Journal of Ultrastructural Research 1969, 26: 31–41.
Kunin, C. M., McCormack, R. C.: Prevention of catheter-induced urinary tract infection by sterile closed drainage. New England Journal of Medicine 1966, 274: 1155–1161.
Garibaldi, R. A., Burke, J. P., Dickman, M. L., Smith, C. B.: Factors predisposing to bacteriuria during indwelling urethral catheterization. New England Journal of Medicine 1975, 291: 215–219.
Warren, J. W., Muncie, H. L., Berquist, E. J., Hoopes, J. M.: Sequelae and management of urinary infections in the patient requiring chronic catheterization. Journal of Urology 1981, 125: 1–8.
Warren, J. W., Tenney, J. H., Hoopes, J. M., Muncie, H. L., Anthony, W. C.: A prospective microbiologic study of bacteriuria in patients with chronic indwelling urethral catheters. Journal of Infectious Diseases 1982, 146: 719–723.
Stamm, W. E.: Guidelines for prevention of catheterassociated urinary tract infections. Annals of Internal Medicine 1975, 82: 386–390.
Platt, R., Polk, B. F., Murdock, B., Rosner, B.: Mortality associated with nosocomial urinary tract infection. New England Journal of Medicine 1982, 307: 637–642.
Keresteci, A. G., Leers, W. D.: Indwelling catheter infection. Canadian Medical Association Journal 1973, 109: 711–713.
Jones, R. F., Young, P. S., Marosszeky, J. F.: Treatment of infection in the presence of an indwelling urethral catheter. British Journal of Urology 1982, 54: 316–319.
Warren, J. W., Hooper, J. M., Muncie, H. L., Anthony, W. C.: Ineffectiveness of cephalexin in treatment of cephalexin-resistant bacteriuria in patients with chronic indwelling urethral catheters. Journal of Urology 1983, 129: 71–73.
Jackson, G. G.: Present status of aminoglycoside antibiotics and their safe and effective use. Clinical Therapeutics 1977, 1: 200–215.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nickel, J.C., Wright, J.B., Ruseska, I. et al. Antibiotic resistance ofPseudomonas aeruginosa colonizing a urinary catheter in vitro. Eur. J, Clin. Microbiol. 4, 213–218 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013600
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02013600