Biofilm Microbiome in Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenator Catheters

Abstract

Background : To assess the relationship between bacteremia and biofilms in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) catheters.Methods: We evaluated the biofilm microbiome of ECMO catheters from adults with (n = 6) and without bacteremia (n = 15). Microbiomes of the catheter biofilms were evaluated by profiling the V3 and V4 regions of bacterial 16s rRNA genes using the Illumina Miseq sequencing platform.Results: In total, 2,548,172 reads, with an average of 121,341 reads per sample, were generated. Although alpha diversity was slightly higher in the non-bacteremic group, it was not statistically significant. Also, there was no difference in beta diversity between the two groups. At the genus level, Delftia was more abundant in the non-bacteremic group, but Bacillus, Flavobacterium, CL0-1, Candidatus, and Xiphinematobacter were more abundant in the bacteremic group. In particular, Arthrobacter, SMB53, Neisseria, Candidatus, Ortrobactrum, Candidatus, Rhabdochlamydia, Deefgae, Dyella, Paracoccus, and Pedobacter were more abundant in the bacteremic group. In a network analysis, compared to the non-bacteremic group, the microbiome of the bacteremic group was very complex. Notably, there was a significant elevation in the secretion system of the non-bacteremic group.Conclusions: Biofilm characteristics in ECMO catheters varied according to the presence or absence of bacteremia.