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Evidence for inoculum size and gas interfaces as critical factors in bacterial biofilm formation on magnesium implants in an animal model.

Rahim, Muhammad Imran
; 
Szafrański, Szymon P
; 
Ingendoh-Tsakmakidis, Alexandra
; 
Stiesch, Meike
; 
Mueller, Peter P
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Issue Date
2019-11-28
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Abstract
Infections of medical implants caused by bacterial biofilms are a major clinical problem. Bacterial colonization is predicted to be prevented by alkaline magnesium surfaces. However, in experimental animal studies, magnesium implants prolonged infections. The reason for this peculiarity likely lies within the ‒still largely hypothetical‒ mechanism by which infection arises. Investigating subcutaneous magnesium implants infected with bioluminescent Pseudomonas aeruginosa via in vivo imaging, we found that the rate of implant infections was critically dependent on a surprisingly high quantity of injected bacteria. At high inocula, bacteria were antibiotic-refractory immediately after infection. High cell densities are known to limit nutrient availability, restricting proliferation and trigger quorum sensing which could both contribute to the rapid initial resistance. We propose that gas bubbles such as those formed during magnesium corrosion, can then act as interfaces that support biofilm formation and permit long-term survival. This model could provide an explanation for the apparent ineffectiveness of innovative contact-dependent bactericidal implant surfaces in patients. In addition, the model points toward air bubbles in tissue, either by inclusion during surgery or by spontaneous gas bubble formation later on, could constitute a key risk factor for clinical implant infections
Citation
olloids Surf B Biointerfaces. 2019 Nov 28;186:110684. doi: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2019.110684.
Affiliation
HZI,Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung GmbH, Inhoffenstr. 7,38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal
Colloids and Surfaces B, Biointerfaces
URI
http://hdl.handle.net/10033/622063
DOI
10.1016/j.colsurfb.2019.110684
PubMed ID
31812076
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Article
Language
en
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ISSN
1873-4367
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Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International
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Publications of the research group Chemical Biology (CBIO)