Biofilms in peritoneal dialysis.

Microbial adhesions and biofilm bacterial growth have been implicated in serious infections associated with the use of bioprosthetic medical devices and indwelling catheters in humans. Biofilm bacterial growth also commonly occurs on peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters from skin bacteria. Mature biofilms develop high antibiotic resistance and cause recurrent peritonitis and catheter loss in a subgroup of PD patients.

The effects of macrolide and quinolone antibiotics in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus biofilm growth.

Recent studies demonstrate that 14-membered macrolides increase permeability and destruction of Pseudomonas biofilms. The effect of a macrolide antibiotic, erythromycin, on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) biofilm on Silastic catheter materials in comparison with two different quinolone antibiotics, sparfloxacin (SPFX) and a new quinolone, SYN 1193, was examined. Two different MRSA strains were grown in biofilm, using Mueller-Hinton broth with and without the addition of 10% pooled normal human serum (PNHS), in a modified Robbins device, at 37 degrees C for 24, 48, and 72 hours.

Interferon-gamma levels in peritoneal dialysis effluents: relation to peritonitis.

As peritoneal macrophages require Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) for bacterial lysis, IFN-gamma levels were measured in peritoneal dialysis effluents. (PDE) by a specific radioimmunoassay. High IFN-gamma levels were found in patients with peritonitis compared to low levels in patients without peritonitis (mean 9.

Development of bacterial biofilms on silastic catheter materials in peritoneal dialysis fluid.

A modified Robbins' device was used to monitor the growth of bacteria associated with clinical peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis fluid. To simulate bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on peritoneal catheters, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli were allowed to adhere to silastic disks and were then grown in fresh or used dialysis fluid. Adherent bacteria formed microcolonies and biofilms on silastics within 4 to 24 hours.

Catheter biofilms and recurrent CAPD peritonitis.

To study the significance of biofilm bacteria in CAPD peritonitis, in a preliminary study, we compared the growth of planktonic and biofilm bacteria by parallel cultures of the same PD effluent in 14 patients with CAPD-associated peritonitis. Planktonic bacteria were isolated by routine microbiologic culture techniques and biofilm bacteria by the use of a modified Robbins' device (MRD). Antibiotic sensitivity or MIC's of bacterial strains isolated by the two techniques were compared.