Species interactions in mixed-community crystalline biofilms on urinary catheters

2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 1549-1557 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah M. Macleod ◽  
David J. Stickler

Previous experimental investigations of the crystalline biofilms that colonize and block urinary catheters have focussed on their formation by pure cultures of Proteus mirabilis. In the urine of patients undergoing long-term catheterization, P. mirabilis is commonly found in mixed communities with other urinary tract pathogens. Little is known about the effect that the other species have on the rate at which P. mirabilis encrusts catheters. In the present study, a set of data on the nature of the bacterial communities on 106 catheter biofilms has been analysed and it was found that while species such as Providencia stuartii and Klebsiella pneumoniae were commonly associated with P. mirabilis, when Escherichia coli, Morganella morganii or Enterobacter cloacae were present, P. mirabilis was rarely or never found. The hypothesis that the absence of P. mirabilis from some biofilm communities could be due to its active exclusion by other species has also been examined. Experiments in laboratory models showed that co-infection of P. mirabilis with M. morganii, K. pneumoniae or E. coli had no effect on the ability of P. mirabilis to encrust and block catheters. Co-infection with Ent. cloacae or Pseudomonas aeruginosa, however, significantly increased the time that catheters took to block (P <0.05). The growth of Ent. cloacae, M. morganii, K. pneumoniae or E. coli in the model for 72 h prior to superinfection with P. mirabilis significantly delayed catheter blockage. In the case of Ent. cloacae, for example, the mean time to blockage was extended from 28.7 h to 60.7 h (P ≤0.01). In all cases, however, P. mirabilis was able to generate alkaline urine, colonize the biofilms, induce crystal formation and block the catheters. The results suggest that although there is a degree of antagonism between P. mirabilis and some of the other urinary tract organisms, the effects are temporary and whatever the pre-existing urinary microbiota, infection with P. mirabilis is thus likely to lead to catheter encrustation and blockage.

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (06) ◽  
pp. 1330-1345
Author(s):  
Bhavadharani Bhavadharani ◽  
◽  
Reshmi Gopalakrishnan ◽  
Karkuvelraja R ◽  
◽  
...  

Urinary catheters are regularly used withinside the elderly for each short- or long-term. The biofilm formation occurs on the catheters and leads to urinary tract infection. The present study focus on the development of Sphagneticolatrilobata coated catheters for the prevention of urinary tract infections (UTI). Bioactive compounds were extracted using methanol and MIC was determined. Biofilm inhibition assay was determined by Fluorescent microscopic analysis. 7.5mg/ml extracts showed 13mm against E. coli and 14mm against S. aureus. The extract-coated catheter showed a significant reduction in biofilms from the fluorescent microscopic analysis. Hence Sphagneticolatrilobataflower extract coated catheters can be used to prevent biofilm colonization and urinary tract infections.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. S537-S537
Author(s):  
Hyun Joo Jung ◽  
Shin Young Lee

Abstract Background Childhood urinary tract infection (UTI) may cause increased major morbidity and long-term clinical consequences. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) is produced by the members of the Enterobacteriaceae family, which are the primary infectious agents that cause UTI in children. Isolation of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) typically occurred in healthcare facilities; however, the incidence of community-associated (CA) UTIs due to ESBL-E has increased worldwide. It has led to an increase in the use of carbapenems. In this study, we determine the characteristics of community-onset UTIs caused by ESBL-E in children to suggest non-carbapenem options for the treatment of childhood UTIs due to ESBL-E in order to preserve carbapenems. Methods A total of 2,157 isolates of ESBL-E were collected from children below 18 years old who were clinically certified UTI or urosepsis between January 2008 and August 2018 at tertiary university hospital in Korea. Their electronic medical records were retrospectively reviewed. Long-term healthcare facility stay within the preceding month and isolates recovered more than 72 hours after hospitalization were the criteria of healthcare-associated (HA) infection. Results The most common isolates were E. coli 1815 (84.2%) followed by K. pneumoniae 342 (15.8%). CA infection was detected in 1,513 of the 2157 ESBL-E (70.1%). The prevalence of CA ESBL-E infection increased significantly from 68 cases in 2008 to 325 cased in 2017. Antibiotic susceptibility test showed highest sensitivity to ertapenem, meropenem, and amikacin (>90%) followed by cefoxitin (82%), and piperacillin–tazobactam (TZP) (80.5%). CA E. coli showed higher sensitivity to amikacin and TZP compared with HA E coli. CA K. pneumoniae showed much higher sensitivity to TZP compared with HA K. pneumoniae. Of total ESBL-E, the antimicrobial resistance rate to aminoglycoside such as amikacin and gentamicin showed full sensitivity during the study period; furthermore, a rate of resistance to TZP has been decreasing over the years. Conclusion Identifying antibiotic susceptibility patterns of ESBL-E is a useful guide for treatment strategy of UTI. This study showed that there are non-carbapenem options for the treatment of CA ESBL UTI in children. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.


2014 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 218-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Bookstaver ◽  
Christopher M. Bland ◽  
Mitchell W. Woodberry ◽  
Karon B. Mansell

This study attempted to determine whether cefuroxime was superior to cephalothin as a surrogate marker for cefpodoxime among urinary tract isolates. The MicroScan system (Siemens) was used to determine susceptibility for cephalothin and cefuroxime on consecutive cultures with a colony count of ≥50 000 organisms. Simultaneously, an Etest (bioMérieux) for cefpodoxime was conducted. The cefpodoxime interpretation was compared to that of the other two agents, and the categorical agreement was calculated, defined as the percentage of identical susceptibility interpretations. Cefuroxime (83 %) had a significantly higher categorical agreement than cephalothin (63 %) among 300 isolates (P<0.01). The major error rate was 16 % for cephalothin and 3 % for cefuroxime. The very major error rate was 7 % for cephalothin and 14 % for cefuroxime among the 14 cefpodoxime-resistant isolates. For Escherichia coli, the major error rates were 15 % and 1 % for cephalothin and cefuroxime, respectively. Very major error rates were 9 % for both agents. Cefuroxime was a better predictor of cefpodoxime susceptibility than cephalothin, and appears to be the preferred surrogate agent for the MicroScan system, particularly for E. coli.


Pathogens ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 835
Author(s):  
Jordan R. Gaston ◽  
Marissa J. Andersen ◽  
Alexandra O. Johnson ◽  
Kirsten L. Bair ◽  
Christopher M. Sullivan ◽  
...  

Indwelling urinary catheters are common in health care settings and can lead to catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Long-term catheterization causes polymicrobial colonization of the catheter and urine, for which the clinical significance is poorly understood. Through prospective assessment of catheter urine colonization, we identified Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus mirabilis as the most prevalent and persistent co-colonizers. Clinical isolates of both species successfully co-colonized in a murine model of CAUTI, and they were observed to co-localize on catheter biofilms during infection. We further demonstrate that P. mirabilis preferentially adheres to E. faecalis during biofilm formation, and that contact-dependent interactions between E. faecalis and P. mirabilis facilitate establishment of a robust biofilm architecture that enhances antimicrobial resistance for both species. E. faecalis may therefore act as a pioneer species on urinary catheters, establishing an ideal surface for persistent colonization by more traditional pathogens such as P. mirabilis.


2002 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 213-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
SI Thoresen ◽  
WP Bredal ◽  
RD Sande

A case of bilateral, upper urinary tract infection caused by haemolytic E coli in a female Birman cat is presented. Ultrasonographic examination of the kidneys documented changes in size, outline, echogenicity and architecture. Ultrasound guided fine needle aspiration of fluid from the renal pelvis was used to make the diagnosis. Fluid was submitted for culture and sensitivity and based on the results, antimicrobial therapy was initiated. The treatment was monitored over a 406-day follow-up period. Despite extensive treatment with specific antibiotics and supportive therapy, recurrence of urinary tract infection occurred.


Author(s):  
Jordan Gaston ◽  
Marissa Andersen ◽  
Alexandra Johnson ◽  
Kirsten Bair ◽  
Christopher Sullivan ◽  
...  

Indwelling urinary catheters are common in healthcare settings and can lead to catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI). Long-term catheterization causes polymicrobial colonization of the catheter and urine, for which the clinical significance is poorly understood. Through prospective assessment of catheter urine colonization, we identified Enterococcus faecalis and Proteus mirabilis as the most prevalent and persistent co-colonizers. Clinical isolates of both species successfully co-colonized in a murine model of CAUTI, and they were observed to co-localize on catheter biofilms during infection. We further demonstrate that P. mirabilis preferentially adheres to E. faecalis during biofilm formation, and that contact-dependent interactions between E. faecalis and P. mirabilis facilitate establishment of a robust biofilm architecture that enhances antimicrobial resistance for both species. E. faecalis may therefore act as a pioneer species on urinary catheters, establishing an ideal surface for persistent colonization by more traditional pathogens such as P. mirabilis.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie G. Hays ◽  
Leo L.W. Yan ◽  
Pamela A. Silver ◽  
Daniel C. Ducat

ABSTRACTBackgroundMicrobial consortia composed of autotrophic and heterotrophic species abound in nature, yet examples of synthetic communities with mixed metabolism are limited in the laboratory. We previously engineered a model cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus PCC 7942, to secrete the bulk of the carbon it fixes as sucrose, a carbohydrate that can be utilized by many other microbes. Here, we tested the capability of sucrose-secreting cyanobacteria to act as a flexible platform for the construction of synthetic, light-driven consortia by pairing them with three disparate heterotrophs: Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, or Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The comparison of these different co-culture dyads reveals general design principles for the construction of robust autotroph/heterotroph consortia.Main findingsWe observed heterotrophic growth dependent upon cyanobacterial photosynthate in each co-culture pair. Furthermore, these synthetic consortia could be stabilized over the long-term (weeks to months) and both species could persist when challenged with specific perturbations. Stability and productivity of autotroph/heterotroph co-cultures was dependent on heterotroph sucrose utilization, as well as other species-independent interactions that we observed across all dyads. One interaction we observed to destabilize consortia was that non-sucrose byproducts of photosynthesis negatively impacted heterotroph growth. Conversely, inoculation of each heterotrophic species enhanced cyanobacterial growth in comparison to axenic cultures Finally, these consortia can be flexibly programmed for photoproduction of target compounds and proteins; by changing the heterotroph in co–culture to specialized strains of B. subtilis or E. coli we demonstrate production of alpha-amylase and polyhydroxybutyrate, respectively.ConclusionsEnabled by the unprecedented flexibility of this consortia design, we uncover species-independent design principles that influence cyanobacteria/heterotroph consortia robustness. The modular nature of these communities and their unusual robustness exhibits promise as a platform for highly-versatile photoproduction strategies that capitalize on multi-species interactions and could be utilized as a tool for the study of nascent symbioses. Further consortia improvements via engineered interventions beyond those we show here (i.e. increased efficiency growing on sucrose) could improve these communities as production platforms.


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