The presence of bacterial microcolonies on the maxillary sinus ciliary epithelium in healthy young individuals.

Monika Morawska-Kochman,Katarzyna Jermakow,Wojciech Pawlak,Kamil Nelke,Marek Bochnia,Krzysztof Marycz

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0176776

Monika Morawska-Kochman, Katarzyna Jermakow + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0176776

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ObjectiveThe aim of this cross-sectional in vitro study was to evaluate the mucosal surfaces of healthy maxillary sinuses, explore different forms of bacterial microorganism colonies present on the mucous membrane, and determine a mucosal surface area they occupy.MethodsSamples of the maxillary sinus mucosa were collected from 30 healthy patients (M = 11; F = 19). The material was obtained during the Le Fort I osteotomy performed during corrective jaw surgery. The morphological and morphometric analysis of sinus mucosa and bacterial film that was grown on it was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) as well as imaging software.ResultsScanning electron microscopy analysis showed the presence of different bacterium and bacteria-like structures in all the analyzed samples. In most cases, the bacterial film was mostly composed of diplococci-like and streptococci-like structures on the mucosa of the paranasal sinus. In any case, the mucous layer did not cover the whole lining of the evaluated sample. Each colony consists of more than 20 single bacterial cells, which has grown in aggregates.ConclusionsUnder the conditions of normal homeostasis of the body, the maxillary sinuses present diverse bacterial colonization. The bacteria are dispersed or concentrated in single microcolonies of the biofilm on the border of the mucous covering the ciliary epithelium. There is no uniform layer of the biofilm covering the mucosa of the maxillary sinuses. Because the biofilm is detected on healthy individuals sinus mucosa, the clinical question if it may become pathogenic is unclear and require an explanation.

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The bacterial biofilm is typically defined as the concentration of microorganisms superficially associated and surrounded by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS)
Scanning electron microscopy analysis showed the presence of different bacterium and bacteria-like structures in all the analyzed samples
Bacterial biofilm in healthy sinus biofilm is detected on healthy individuals sinus mucosa, the clinical question if it may become pathogenic is unclear and require an explanation

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Introduction

The bacterial biofilm is typically defined as the concentration of microorganisms superficially associated and surrounded by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). It is currently believed that the biofilm is responsible for some chronic inflammations [2,3,4,5,6,7, 8]. Clinical biofilm-associated infections (BAI) are recognized as a greater therapeutic problem than infections caused by the planktonic form of bacteria. In vitro studies on the biofilm are typically focused on the research of pathogenic strains. Microbiological identification of the biofilm responsible for BAI is especially difficult due to the need for differentiation from non-pathogenic colonizing flora [3]. Colonization is defined as the presence of bacteria on the mucous membrane, and the lack of the inflammatory response distinguishes it from an infection [12]

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