In vitro activity of hyperthermia on swarming motility and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Proteus mirabilis isolates

Abstract

Aim Swarming motility is a virulence factor for Proteus mirabilis and is a coordinated multicellular movement of bacteria. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of hyperthermia on bacterial swarming motility and antimicrobial resistance. Methods Thirty-one P. mirabilis isolates were included in the study. Seven inoculated agar plates were incubated inside incubators with increasing temperature levels: at 36 °C (control) and 40–45 °C. On the next day, inhibition of swarming was evaluated and minimum paralyzing temperature (MPT) values were determined. An antimicrobial susceptibility test (antibiogram) is performed by exposing bacteria to increasing concentrations of antibiotics, in vitro. Thus, we used the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test as a screening method to analyze the antibiogram profiles of the isolates at 36 °C and 42 °C. Finally, a time-kill assay was performed to analyze the killing effect of hyperthermia (42 °C) on planktonic bacteria, in combination with the antibiotic meropenem at the first and third hours. A Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to compare the killing effects of meropenem, hyperthermia and their combinations. Results The median MPT value was determined as 44 °C. In the disk diffusion assay, susceptibility development was observed in 94% of isolates for at least one antibiotic. In the time-kill assay, we observed a significant killing effect of hyperthermia in combination with meropenem. Under the microscope, we observed the formation of spherical cells by the effect of heat. Conclusion We conclude that these findings might be useful when employing the hyperthermia method to treat infectious diseases caused by P. mirabilis in the future.