A rapid and simple method for routine determination of antibiotic sensitivity to biofilm populations of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Ann Clin Microbiol Antimicrob. 2020 Mar 13;19(1):8. doi: 10.1186/s12941-020-00350-6.

Abstract

Treatment of infections by Pseudomonas aeruginosa forming biofilms after antimicrobial testing on planktonic bacteria can result in substantial failure. Therefore, we offer a robust and simple experimental platform to test the impact of antimicrobials on biofilms. Antibiotic response patterns varied uniquely within biofilm formation capacity and minimal biofilm eradication concentrations (MBECs) has a significantly better discriminatory power than minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) to differentiate the overall efficiency of antibiotics to eradicate biofilm. Our resazurin-based 96-well-plate platform is able to emulate bacterial responses to antibiotics under biofilm conditions in a fast, simple, and cost-effective screening method adaptable to automation, and warrants trials in the clinic.

Keywords: Antibiofilm; Antimicrobial susceptibility; Biofilm infections; Biofilms; Chronic bacterial infections; Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods*
  • Pseudomonas Infections* / microbiology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects*

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents