Inhibition of biofilms on urinary catheters using immobilized Lactobacillus cells

Abstract

Bacterial biofilms forming on indwelling urinary catheters continue to represent a public health problem because they are associated with urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study was undertaken to evaluate the ability of immobilized Lactobacillus acidophilus cells to inhibit biofilm formation on catheter surfaces. Urine bacteria and Lactobacillus species were isolated from urine and vaginal swabs (HVS), respectively. Immobilization of L. acidophilus on catheter samples was achieved using sodium alginate and the inhibition of urine bacteria by the immobilized Lactobacillus cells was evaluated by microscopy and viable cell count procedures following co-culture of the immobilized cells and urine bacteria. Results showed that pre-coating of catheter surfaces with L. acidophilus before exposure to urine bacteria significantly (p<0.05) reduced attachment of some urine bacteria to the catheter surfaces. Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella and Escherichia coli were significantly inhibited, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not inhibited. Furthermore, crude bacteriocin preparations from the Lactobacillus cells had antimicrobial activity against the urine bacteria. This study shows that precoating of catheter surfaces with L. acidophilus could be an effective strategy for controlling biofilm formation on urinary catheters.

Probiotic lactic acid bacteria as a means of preventing in vitro urinary catheter colonization and biofilm formation

“…However, 6 days were not enough to clear P. aeruginosa by any of the tested probiotic strains. The results of this study strongly agree with those of Ifeoma and Jennifer, in which pre-coating of catheter surfaces with L. acidophilus before exposure to bacterial uropathogens significantly reduced the attachment of E. coli and Klebsiella to the catheter surfaces, while P. aeruginosa was not inhibited [29]. The results of the current study also agree with those of Maldonado et al, in which whole cells and acid supernatant of L. fermentum inhibited BF and growth of Klebsiella [30].…”

Effect of Lactobacillus plantarum Biofilms on the Adhesion of Escherichia coli to Urinary Tract Devices

“…Despite promising results in displacing adhering uropathogens and inhibiting bacterial adhesion to catheter materials [40][41][42][43][44][45][46][47][48], the application of probiotics as a coating for UTDs remains barely explored. Since bacterial adhesion and biofilm growth are affected by the hydrodynamic forces around surfaces [49], and these forces vary between the upper and lower urinary tract, as well as on the inner and outer part of the device, it is important to consider this variability when setting an experimental assay of biofilm formation [9].…”

“…The experiments should also use biologically relevant fluids like pooled human urine or artificial urine [9]. Most of the antibiofilm assays are performed under static conditions [40,[43][44][45][46], characteristic of the extraluminal side of UTDs [9], while just a small number of studies used the controlled hydrodynamic conditions [47,48] from intraluminal surfaces in the urethra, bladder or ureter [9]. On the other hand, only a couple of studies used nutritional conditions similar to those found in human urine [47,48].…”

The Use of Probiotics to Fight Biofilms in Medical Devices: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

“…Probiotics were successfully tested on silicone-based surfaces, decreasing the amount of biofilm culturable cells of S. aureus (99.9%), Ent. faecalis (99.9%) and multi-species biofilms (83%–95%) ( Table 1 , Table 2 and Table 3 ), showing applicability in urinary catheters [ 12 , 94 , 107 , 126 ] and voice prostheses [ 60 , 92 ]. Moreover, probiotics exerted antibiofilm activity on polystyrene ( Table 2 and Table 3 ), reducing the biofilm culturability of E. coli [ 93 , 105 ] and K. pneumoniae [ 110 ] up to 99.9%, and the biofilm amount of Strep.…”

“…Probiotic cells also reduced the number of biofilm culturable cells of C. albicans up to 80% in polyurethane ( Table 1 and Table 3 ) [ 87 ], and of E. coli O157:H7, S. aureus and S. epidermidis up to 99.9% in polypropylene ( Table 3 ) [ 113 ]. In glass, the introduction of L. rhamnosus and Lactobacillus reuteri into pre-formed biofilms resulted in a significant killing of pathogens ( Table 1 ) [ 89 , 93 ], while the L. acidophilus coating demonstrated high resistance to bacterial adhesion ( Table 2 ) [ 107 ]. Other applications where probiotics have been gaining interest are in the oral biofilm treatment and caries prevention.…”