Bacteriophage-based decontamination to control environmental colonization by Staphylococcus capitis in neonatal intensive care units: An in vitro proof-of-concept

Marie Chavignon; Camille Kolenda; Mathieu Medina; Mélanie Bonhomme; Leslie Blazere; Tiphaine Legendre; Anne Tristan; Frédéric Laurent; Marine Butin

doi:10.3389/fcimb.2022.1060825

Bacteriophage-based decontamination to control environmental colonization by Staphylococcus capitis in neonatal intensive care units: An in vitro proof-of-concept

Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2022 Nov 16:12:1060825. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1060825. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Marie Chavignon¹, Camille Kolenda^{1

2}, Mathieu Medina^{1

2}, Mélanie Bonhomme¹, Leslie Blazere^{1

2}, Tiphaine Legendre^{1

2}, Anne Tristan^{1

2}, Frédéric Laurent^{1

2}, Marine Butin^{1

3}

Affiliations

¹ Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie (CIRI), Team « Pathogénie des Staphylocoques », Inserm, U1111, Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS) UMR5308, Ecole normale supérieure (ENS) Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France.
² Institut des Agents Infectieux, Centre National de Référence des Staphylocoques, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.
³ Service de Néonatologie et Réanimation Néonatale, Hôpital Femme Mère Enfant, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France.

Abstract

Introduction: In neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), the standard chemical-based disinfection procedures do not allow a complete eradication of pathogens from environmental surfaces. In particular, the clone Staphylococcus capitis NRCS-A, a significant pathogen in neonates, was shown to colonize neonatal incubators. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effect of a bacteriophage cocktail on NRCS-A eradication.

Methods: Three bacteriophages were isolated, genetically characterized and assessed for their host range using a collection of representative clinical strains (n=31) belonging to the clone NRCS-A. The efficacy of a cocktail including these three bacteriophages to eradicate the reference strain S. capitis NRCS-A CR01 was determined in comparison or in combination with the chemical disinfectant Surfanios Premium on either dry inoculum or biofilm-embedded bacteria. The emergence of bacterial resistance against the bacteriophages alone or in cocktail was evaluated by growth kinetics.

Results: The three bacteriophages belonged to two families and genera, namely Herelleviridae/Kayvirus for V1SC01 and V1SC04 and Rountreeviridae/Andhravirus for V1SC05. They were active against 17, 25 and 16 of the 31 tested strains respectively. Bacteriophage cocktails decreased the bacterial inoculum of both dry spots and biofilms, with a dose dependent effect. The sequential treatment with bacteriophages then Surfanios Premium did not show enhanced efficacy. No bacterial resistance was observed when using the bacteriophage cocktail.

Discussion: This study established a proof-of-concept for the use of bacteriophages to fight against S. capitis NRCS-A. Further investigations are needed using a larger bacterial collection and in real-life conditions before being able to use such technology in NICUs.

Keywords: bacteriophages; biofilm; disinfection; neonatal intensive care units (NICU); staphylococcus capitis NRCS-A.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacteriophages*
Decontamination
Host Specificity
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
Staphylococcus capitis*