Biofilm Growth on Simulated Fracture Fixation Plates Using a Customized CDC Biofilm Reactor for a Sheep Model of Biofilm-Related Infection

oleh: Walker Kay, Connor Hunt, Lisa Nehring, Brian Barnum, Nicholas Ashton, Dustin Williams

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2022-03-01

Deskripsi

Most animal models of infection utilize planktonic bacteria as initial inocula. However, this may not accurately mimic scenarios where bacteria in the biofilm phenotype contaminate a site at the point of injury. We developed a modified CDC biofilm reactor in which biofilms can be grown on the surface of simulated fracture fixation plates. Multiple reactor runs were performed and demonstrated that monomicrobial biofilms of a clinical strain of methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, <i>S. aureus</i> ATCC 6538, and <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i> ATCC 27853 consistently developed on fixation plates. We also identified a method by which to successfully grow polymicrobial biofilms of <i>S. aureus</i> ATCC 6538 and <i>P. aeruginosa</i> ATCC 27853 on fixation plates. This customized reactor can be used to grow biofilms on simulated fracture fixation plates that can be inoculated in animal models of biofilm implant-related infection that, for example, mimic open fracture scenarios. The reactor provides a method for growing biofilms that can be used as initial inocula and potentially improve the testing and development of antibiofilm technologies.