Inhibition of Bacterial Adherence on the Surface of Stents and Bacterial Growth in Bile by Bismuth Dimercaprol

Abstract

Bacterial infection and biofilm formation on the surface of biliary stents is believed to be one of the main factors in stent occlusion. This study explored the role of the new reagent, bismuth dimercaprol, in preventing bacterial adherence and bacterial biofilm formation on the surface of biliary stents. Sterile porcine bile preparations, infected separately with Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter, and Enterococcus, were used as the perfusion media in an in vitro perfusion system. The bacterial growth in the media and the bacterial adherence on the surface of stents were tested when different concentrations of bismuth dimercaprol were used in the perfusion media. BisBAL (5 microM) did not inhibit the growth of any of the tested bacterial species. It did, however, significantly decrease the amount of bacteria adhering to the surface of stents for all bacterial strains except Escherichia coli. Bismuth dimercaprol (20 microM) significantly inhibited the growth of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter and, thereby, significantly decreased the amount of these bacteria adhering to the surface of stents. The unique bactericidal and anitbiofilm activities of bismuth thiols might contribute to delaying the process of biliary stent occlusion if the effective concentrations of bismuth thiols could be delivered to the target sites. The feasibility of this application of bismuth thiols deserves further investigation.

Bismuth dimercaptopropanol (BisBAL) inhibits the expression of extracellular polysaccharides and proteins by Brevundimonas diminuta: Implications for membrane microfiltration

“…Similar results were obtained for proteins expression as summarized in Figure 2c and d wherein a >85% decrease was measured for free-and bound-EPS proteins with near-MIC BisBAL treatment after 5 days. Dramatic reductions in total extracellular polysaccharides and proteins expression upon exposure to BisBAL by B. diminuta are similar to data reported in other bacterial systems (Domenico et al, 1999;Huang and Stewart, 1999;Wu et al, 2002;Zhang et al, 2005) and verifies its ability to decrease biofilm formation. As may be expected (Characklis and Marshall, 1990;Wimpenny et al, 1993), polysaccharides dominated proteins in EPS secreted by suspended B. diminuta cultures.…”

In vitro efficacy of bismuth thiols against biofilms formed by bacteria isolated from human chronic wounds

“…Numerous studies have found BisBAL to be a promising compound in a wide variety of applications. It has been reported to inhibit microbial growth on coated stents (Zhang et al. 2005), reduce drinking water biofilms (Codony et al.…”

“…Numerous studies have found BisBAL to be a promising compound in a wide variety of applications. It has been reported to inhibit microbial growth on coated stents (Zhang et al 2005), reduce drinking water biofilms (Codony et al 2003) and reduce virulence of P. aeruginosa (Wu et al 2002). BisBAL reportedly has low concentration MBCs for B. cepacia complex (Veloira et al 2003) and a low MIC for E. coli.…”

Bismuth dimercaptopropanol (BisBAL) inhibits formation of multispecies wastewater flocs

“…1997; Mahony et al. 1999; Kusters and Kuipers 2001; Zhang et al. 2005; Yang and Sun 2007; Schindler et al.…”

“…BisBAL has been shown to be highly effective against monocultures of Klebsiella pneumoniae (Domenico et al. 1999; Zhang et al. 2005), Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus spp.…”