Effect of Staphylococcus epidermidis on adherence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and gentamicin-containing PMMA.

The goals of this study were to determine 1) effect of Staphylococcus epidermidis adherence and biofilm production on adherence of the opportunistic pathogens Proteus mirabilis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); 2) if the biofilm killed by autoclaving altered adherence of other organisms; 3) if adherence of S. epidermidis to gentamicin-containing PMMA altered adherence of the opportunistic pathogens P. mirabilis and P. aeruginosa to gentamicin-containing PMMA. Results show that biofilms formed by S. epidermidis, whether alive or dead, significantly increased adherence of Pseudomonas. Adherence of Proteus was significantly increased on dead biofilms and increased, but not significantly (p = less than 0.1), on live ones. Greatest adherence seen in the study was to autoclaved biofilms. Significant adherence of Proteus and Pseudomonas was found on gentamicin-containing PMMA specimens, which were preincubated with S. epidermidis for formation on the biofilm. These results indicate that a biofilm is formed on PMMA-gentamicin specimens and this may impair the ability of gentamicin to kill other organisms.