Enhancement of antistaphylococcal activities of six antimicrobials against sasG-negative methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus: an in vitro biofilm model

This study was designed to evaluate antimicrobial activities against methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus in both sessile and planktonic forms and to detect genes associated with this biofilm phenotype. Minimal biofilm inhibition and eradication concentrations (MBIC and MBEC, respectively) were determined by an in vitro biofilm model, and icaA, atlA, and sasG genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction. Vancomycin and tigecycline presented better biofilm inhibitory activity (MBIC range: 4-8 μg/mL) (P ≤ 0.05) and lower MBEC/MIC ratios (P ≤ 0.001) than other antimicrobials. All isolates harbored icaA and atlA, whereas sasG was present only in strong biofilm formers (P ≤ 0.05). Interestingly, antimicrobial activities against sasG − weak biofilm formers were significantly higher than those against sasG + strong biofilm formers (P ≤ 0.05), demonstrating that number of cells in a biofilm matrix affected the antimicrobial activity, which was also variable, and might be associated with specific genetic determinants. To our knowledge, this was the first study reporting the presence of sasG in clinical isolates of S. aureus in South America.