Institute of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg- Essen, Essen, Germany.
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, University Hospital Essen, University Duisburg-Essen, Hufelandstrasse 55, 45147, Essen, Essen, Germany.
Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol. 2024 Dec;281(12):6261-6266. doi: 10.1007/s00405-024-08835-2. Epub 2024 Jul 23.
Bacterial biofilm formation on medical devices, such as Cochlear implants (CI), can lead to chronic infections. Not only the inner parts of the implant but also the externally located headpiece might be associated with prolonged superficial skin eczema resulting in the inability of wearing the headpiece. In this study, the surface of three CI headpieces from different manufacturers were examined for bacterial biofilm formation.
Two bacterial species associated with implant-related infections were tested: Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC9027) and Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC6538). Biofilms were formed over 24 h in tryptic soy broth at 36 °C. Biofilm formation was detected in form of biomass measurement by crystal violet staining. CI headpiece dummies of three manufacturers were used.
Both tested bacterial species formed biofilms on the examined CI headpiece-surfaces in a species-dependent manner with higher biofilm formation of P. aeruginosa. For both, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, biofilm formation on the CI components was comparable to a polystyrene control surface. Between the three manufacturers, no significant difference in biofilm formation was found.
The tested bacteria displayed biofilm formation on the CI headpieces in a species-specific manner with higher amount of biofilm formed by P. aeruginosa. The biofilm formation was comparable between the manufacturers. In this study, an enhanced biofilm formation on CI headpieces could not be demonstrated. These in vitro tests suggest a minor role of bacterial biofilm on the CI headpiece in skin infections under the CI headpiece.
医疗器械（如人工耳蜗）上的细菌生物膜形成可导致慢性感染。不仅植入物的内部，而且外部的头部也可能与长期浅层皮肤湿疹有关，导致无法佩戴头部。在这项研究中，检查了来自三个不同制造商的三个人工耳蜗头部的细菌生物膜形成。
测试了两种与植入物相关感染相关的细菌：铜绿假单胞菌（ATCC9027）和金黄色葡萄球菌（ATCC6538）。在 36°C 的胰蛋白酶大豆肉汤中孵育 24 小时形成生物膜。通过结晶紫染色检测生物膜形成的生物量测量。使用三个制造商的人工耳蜗头部模型。
两种测试细菌均以物种依赖性方式在检查的人工耳蜗头部表面形成生物膜，铜绿假单胞菌的生物膜形成更高。对于金黄色葡萄球菌和铜绿假单胞菌，CI 组件上的生物膜形成与聚苯乙烯对照表面相当。在三个制造商之间，生物膜形成没有明显差异。
测试细菌以特定物种的方式在人工耳蜗头部形成生物膜，铜绿假单胞菌形成的生物膜量更多。制造商之间的生物膜形成相当。在这项研究中，人工耳蜗头部的细菌生物膜形成并没有增强。这些体外试验表明，CI 头部的细菌生物膜在 CI 头下的皮肤感染中的作用较小。
