The efficacy of antibiotics enhanced by electrical currents against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms. 1996

J Jass, and H M Lappin-Scott
Department of Biological Sciences, Hatherly Laboratories, University of Exeter, UK.

Low electrical currents are reported to enhance the activity of tobramycin and biocides against biofilm bacteria. We report that the activity of those antibiotics to which the bacterium is susceptible in its planktonic state may be enhanced by a low electrical current against the more resistant biofilm cells. Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms were formed on a dialysis membrane suspended between two parallel electrode plates in an electrical colonisation cell. Ciprofloxacin, polymyxin B and piperacillin were tested on biofilms at ten times their MIC for 12 h in the presence of 0 (control) and 9 mA/cm2 current density. At these concentrations the antibiotics alone reduced the biofilm population, but in the presence of an electrical current the population was further reduced by ciprofloxacin and polymyxin B though not by piperacillin. Exposure of the planktonic bacteria to the same concentrations of antibiotics demonstrated that ciprofloxacin and polymyxin B reduced the population to below 1% after 12 h and below 0.1% after 24 h, while piperacillin was bacteriostatic. The results suggest that the electrical current can enhance the activity against biofilms of only those antibiotics that are effective against planktonic cells.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008826 Microbial Sensitivity Tests Any tests that demonstrate the relative efficacy of different chemotherapeutic agents against specific microorganisms (i.e., bacteria, fungi, viruses). Bacterial Sensitivity Tests,Drug Sensitivity Assay, Microbial,Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,Antibacterial Susceptibility Breakpoint Determination,Antibiogram,Antimicrobial Susceptibility Breakpoint Determination,Bacterial Sensitivity Test,Breakpoint Determination, Antibacterial Susceptibility,Breakpoint Determination, Antimicrobial Susceptibility,Fungal Drug Sensitivity Tests,Fungus Drug Sensitivity Tests,Sensitivity Test, Bacterial,Sensitivity Tests, Bacterial,Test, Bacterial Sensitivity,Tests, Bacterial Sensitivity,Viral Drug Sensitivity Tests,Virus Drug Sensitivity Tests,Antibiograms,Concentration, Minimum Inhibitory,Concentrations, Minimum Inhibitory,Inhibitory Concentration, Minimum,Inhibitory Concentrations, Minimum,Microbial Sensitivity Test,Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations,Sensitivity Test, Microbial,Sensitivity Tests, Microbial,Test, Microbial Sensitivity,Tests, Microbial Sensitivity
D008855 Microscopy, Electron, Scanning Microscopy in which the object is examined directly by an electron beam scanning the specimen point-by-point. The image is constructed by detecting the products of specimen interactions that are projected above the plane of the sample, such as backscattered electrons. Although SCANNING TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY also scans the specimen point by point with the electron beam, the image is constructed by detecting the electrons, or their interaction products that are transmitted through the sample plane, so that is a form of TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY. Scanning Electron Microscopy,Electron Scanning Microscopy,Electron Microscopies, Scanning,Electron Microscopy, Scanning,Electron Scanning Microscopies,Microscopies, Electron Scanning,Microscopies, Scanning Electron,Microscopy, Electron Scanning,Microscopy, Scanning Electron,Scanning Electron Microscopies,Scanning Microscopies, Electron,Scanning Microscopy, Electron
D010406 Penicillins A group of antibiotics that contain 6-aminopenicillanic acid with a side chain attached to the 6-amino group. The penicillin nucleus is the chief structural requirement for biological activity. The side-chain structure determines many of the antibacterial and pharmacological characteristics. (Goodman and Gilman's The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, 8th ed, p1065) Antibiotics, Penicillin,Penicillin,Penicillin Antibiotics
D010878 Piperacillin Semisynthetic, broad-spectrum, AMPICILLIN derived ureidopenicillin antibiotic proposed for PSEUDOMONAS infections. It is also used in combination with other antibiotics. AB-Piperacillin,Cl-227193,Pipcil,Pipera-Hameln,Piperacillin Curasan,Piperacillin Fresenius,Piperacillin Hexal,Piperacillin Monosodium Salt,Piperacillin Sodium,Piperacillin-Ratiopharm,Pipercillin,Pipracil,Pipril,T-1220,T1220,AB Piperacillin,Cl 227193,Cl227193,Curasan, Piperacillin,Monosodium Salt, Piperacillin,Pipera Hameln,Piperacillin Ratiopharm,Salt, Piperacillin Monosodium,Sodium, Piperacillin,T 1220
D011112 Polymyxin B A mixture of polymyxins B1 and B2, obtained from BACILLUS POLYMYXA strains. They are basic polypeptides of about eight amino acids and have cationic detergent action on cell membranes. Polymyxin B is used for treatment of infections with gram-negative bacteria, but may be neurotoxic and nephrotoxic. Aerosporin,Polymyxin B Sulfate
D011550 Pseudomonas aeruginosa A species of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria commonly isolated from clinical specimens (wound, burn, and urinary tract infections). It is also found widely distributed in soil and water. P. aeruginosa is a major agent of nosocomial infection. Bacillus aeruginosus,Bacillus pyocyaneus,Bacterium aeruginosum,Bacterium pyocyaneum,Micrococcus pyocyaneus,Pseudomonas polycolor,Pseudomonas pyocyanea
D002939 Ciprofloxacin A broad-spectrum antimicrobial carboxyfluoroquinoline. Bay-09867,Ciprinol,Cipro,Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride,Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride Anhydrous,Ciprofloxacin Monohydrochloride Monohydrate,Anhydrous, Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride,Bay 09867,Bay09867,Hydrochloride Anhydrous, Ciprofloxacin,Hydrochloride, Ciprofloxacin,Monohydrate, Ciprofloxacin Monohydrochloride,Monohydrochloride Monohydrate, Ciprofloxacin
D004560 Electricity The physical effects involving the presence of electric charges at rest and in motion.
D000890 Anti-Infective Agents Substances that prevent infectious agents or organisms from spreading or kill infectious agents in order to prevent the spread of infection. Anti-Infective Agent,Anti-Microbial Agent,Antimicrobial Agent,Microbicide,Microbicides,Anti-Microbial Agents,Antiinfective Agents,Antimicrobial Agents,Agent, Anti-Infective,Agent, Anti-Microbial,Agent, Antimicrobial,Agents, Anti-Infective,Agents, Anti-Microbial,Agents, Antiinfective,Agents, Antimicrobial,Anti Infective Agent,Anti Infective Agents,Anti Microbial Agent,Anti Microbial Agents
D000900 Anti-Bacterial Agents Substances that inhibit the growth or reproduction of BACTERIA. Anti-Bacterial Agent,Anti-Bacterial Compound,Anti-Mycobacterial Agent,Antibacterial Agent,Antibiotics,Antimycobacterial Agent,Bacteriocidal Agent,Bacteriocide,Anti-Bacterial Compounds,Anti-Mycobacterial Agents,Antibacterial Agents,Antibiotic,Antimycobacterial Agents,Bacteriocidal Agents,Bacteriocides,Agent, Anti-Bacterial,Agent, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agent, Antibacterial,Agent, Antimycobacterial,Agent, Bacteriocidal,Agents, Anti-Bacterial,Agents, Anti-Mycobacterial,Agents, Antibacterial,Agents, Antimycobacterial,Agents, Bacteriocidal,Anti Bacterial Agent,Anti Bacterial Agents,Anti Bacterial Compound,Anti Bacterial Compounds,Anti Mycobacterial Agent,Anti Mycobacterial Agents,Compound, Anti-Bacterial,Compounds, Anti-Bacterial

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