Abstract
Among many infectious diseases, infections caused by pathogens of Staphylococcus species exert a substantial influence upon human health, mainly due to their continuous presence on human skin and mucous membranes. For that reason, an intensive search for new, effective anistaphyloccocal agents can currently be observed worldwide. In recent years, there has been growing interest in nanoparticles, as compounds with potential antibacterial effect. The antibacterial activity of silver containing substances has been well recognized, but thoughtful studies focused on the effect of silver nanoparticles on bacterial biofilm are scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) with particle sizes in the range between 10 and 100 nm, and a concentration range from 1 to 10 µg/mL, upon Staphylococcus epidermidis strains with different biofilm-forming abilities (BFAs). The studies revealed the highest level of antimicrobial activity for AgNPs in relation to S. epidermidis strains with BFA, and what is more, the observed effect was proportional to the increasing particles’ size, and strains not forming biofilm were more susceptible to silver nanoparticles with the smallest examined size, which was 10 nm.
Highlights
Staphylococcus epidermidis is part of the natural bacterial flora in humans, being the most common species of the human skin microbiome, as well as the respiratory system and alimentary tract
It has been considered an important etiological factor, mainly for nosocomial infections and infections related to the cardiovascular system. Those infections affect mainly immunocompromised patients, as well as persons with prosthetic implants made of plastics. The treatment of such infections caused by S. epidermidis is difficult due to the increased resistance of those bacteria to numerous groups of antibiotics, and their specific biofilm-forming ability (BFA), which reduces the penetration of antibiotics and limits their therapeutic efficacy [1,2]
The antibacterial properties of AgNPs have been known for years, but the discussion is still going on regarding the mechanism responsible for their bactericidal effect
Summary
Staphylococcus epidermidis is part of the natural bacterial flora in humans, being the most common species of the human skin microbiome, as well as the respiratory system and alimentary tract In recent years, it has been considered an important etiological factor, mainly for nosocomial infections and infections related to the cardiovascular system. Those infections affect mainly immunocompromised patients, as well as persons with prosthetic implants made of plastics The treatment of such infections caused by S. epidermidis is difficult due to the increased resistance of those bacteria to numerous groups of antibiotics, and their specific biofilm-forming ability (BFA), which reduces the penetration of antibiotics and limits their therapeutic efficacy [1,2]. Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), to which S. epidermidis belongs, do not produce so many toxins and enzymes as Staphylococcus aureus Their most significant virulence factor is the ability to form biofilm [2,3]. Infections with staphylococci that produce biofilm are difficult to cure, since the bacteria living there may be up to 1000 times more resistant to antibiotic therapy than the pathogens growing in planktonic form [6,7]
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