Using bacteriophages to reduce formation of catheter-associated biofilms by Staphylococcus epidermidis

Use of indwelling catheters is often compromised as a result of biofilm formation. This study investigated if hydrogel-coated catheters pretreated with a coagulase-negative bacteriophage would reduce Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilm formation. Biofilms were developed on hydrogel-coated silicone catheters installed in a modified drip flow reactor. Catheter segments were pretreated with the lytic S. epidermidis bacteriophage 456 by exposing the catheter lumen to a 10-log-PFU/ml culture of the bacteriophage for 1 h at 37 degrees C prior to biofilm formation. The untreated mean biotilm cell count was 7.01 +/- 0.47 log CFU/cm(2) of catheter. Bacteriophage treatment with and without supplemental divalent cations resulted in log-CFU/cm(2) reductions of 4.47 (P < 0.0001) and 2.34 (P = 0.001), respectively. Divalent cation supplementation without bacteriophage treatment provided a 0.67-log-CFU/cm(2) reduction (P = 0.053). Treatment of hydrogel-coated silicone catheters with an S. epidermidis bacteriophage in an in vitro model system significantly reduced viable biofilm formation by S. epidermidis over a 24-h exposure period, suggesting the potential of bacteriophage for mitigating biofilm formation on indwelling catheters and reducing the incidence of catheter-related infections.