Abstract
Biofilms are assemblages of bacterial cells irreversibly associated with a surface where moisture is present. In particular, they retain a relevant impact on public health since through biofilms bacteria are able to survive and populate biomedical devices causing severe nosocomial infections that are generally resistant to antimicrobial agents. Therefore, controlling biofilm formation is a mandatory feature during medical device manufacturing and during their use. In this study, combining a crystal violet staining together with advanced stereomicroscopy, we report an alternative rapid protocol for both qualitative and semi-quantitative biofilm determination having high specificity, high repeatability, and low variability. The suggested approach represents a reliable and versatile method to detect, monitor, and measure biofilm colonization by an easy, more affordable, and reproducible method.
Highlights
Biofilms are organized layers of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria attaching to both abiotic and biotic surfaces [1,2]
There is a wide range of tests that are currently used for biofilm detection such as DNA based methods (PCR, DNA sequencing), imaging (confocal scanning laser microscopy with molecular probes, Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) or labelled antibodies-electron microscopy) and others [10,11,12]
The experimental approach was based on four phases: (1) bacterial culture and biofilm preparation; (2) crystal violet staining of biofilm populated stainless steel welded heat-exchangers; (3) detection of the biofilm by stereo microscopic qualitative analysis; and (4) measurement of biofilm populating material by semi-quantitative analysis
Summary
Biofilms are organized layers of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria attaching to both abiotic and biotic surfaces [1,2] They can colonize metal surface of medical devices such as heart valves, pacemakers, and catheters [3] adversely affecting their functions and causing severe nosocomial infections [4]. There is a wide range of tests that are currently used for biofilm detection such as DNA based methods (PCR, DNA sequencing), imaging (confocal scanning laser microscopy with molecular probes, Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) or labelled antibodies-electron microscopy) and others [10,11,12]. Public Health 2017, 14, 1587; doi:10.3390/ijerph14121587 www.mdpi.com/journal/ijerph
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