Why do susceptible bacteria become resistant to infection control measures? A Pseudomonas biofilm example

• Published in: Infection control and hospital epidemiology Vol. 40; no. 3; pp. 386 - 388
• Main Author: Perez, Leandro Reus Rodrigues
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Cambridge University Press 01.03.2019
• Subjects: Antimicrobial agents; Biofilms; Cross Infection; Disease control; Humans; Infection Control; Infections; Laboratories; Nursing; Ostomy; Pseudomonas aeruginosa - physiology; Pseudomonas Infections - transmission
• ISSN: 0899-823X; 1559-6834
• DOI: 10.1017/ice.2018.348

In 3 other isolates, only genes from the rhL system were detected. [...]we hypothesized a central role of the las system, mainly, on the biofilm development and/or structure maintenance. [...]high MBEC/MIC ratios of 1,000× (0.064/64) were found in 12 strong-biofilm–producing isolates. In these cases, eradication of the infection is difficult because the antimicrobial agents may not penetrate the biofilm, and the decreased metabolic activity of bacteria within biofilms is also due to the increase in gene transfer.5 In a prior study, we demonstrated that P. aeruginosa isolates harboring metallo-β-lactamases had the ability (most strong or moderate) to produce biofilm in vitro, which represents an “overlapping of mechanisms” that challenges pulmonary infection treatment.6 On the other hand, in another study, Acinetobacter baumannii complex showed an inverse relationship between meropenem resistance and biofilm formation.7 Thus, it is important to evaluate the behavioral relation of each bacterial species to better establish targeted prevention efforts and control measures.