Bactericidal activity of various antibiotics against biofilm-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Clinical isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were collected from hospitals in Tehran, Iran, and identified using biochemical tests. A modified microtitre plate test was used to determine the biofilm-forming capacity of the isolates, measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader. Results showed that P. aeruginosa strain 214 was the most efficient at producing biofilm compared with the other strains. Observation of the bacterial biofilm on Teflon sheets and on a catheter using a scanning electron microscope showed greater biofilm formation on the catheter than on Teflon sheets. In this study, we investigated the bactericidal activity of fluoroquinolones, β-lactams, macrolides and aminoglycoside. The results showed differences in the antibiotic susceptibility of planktonic and biofilm cell populations. Fluoroquinolones showed more potent activity than the other antibiotics, and biofilms were completely eradicated by treatment with 16 × the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of ciprofloxacin and 64 × MIC of ofloxacin, whereas all biofilms survived 2560 μg/mL of imipenem and ceftazidime. Production of an exopolysaccharide matrix is one of the distinguishing characteristics of biofilms. It has been suggested that this matrix prevents access of antibiotics to the bacterial cells embedded in the community. In this study, we also evaluated the permeation of antibiotics through alginate of P. aeruginosa strain 214 using a sandwich cup method. Macrolides were most efficient, showing 100% penetration; fluoroquinolones and β-lactams had a high permeation rate >75%, whereas the rates for aminoglycosides were low (amikacin = 59%; gentamicin = 73%).