Quantification of major constituents of biofilms in occluded pancreatic stents. Issue 9 (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vaishnavi, Chetana; Gupta, Pramod K.; Sharma, Megha; Kochhar, Rakesh
• Is Part Of: Journal of medical microbiology. Volume 67:Issue 9(2018)
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: biofilm constituents -- indication of stenting -- micro‐organisms profile -- pancreatic stents -- predisposing factors; Medical microbiology -- Periodicals; 616.9041
• DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.000805
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-2615

Abstract

Abstract : Purpose. : Biofilms comprise bacterial populations enclosed in a matrix that attaches to surfaces such as medical stents. We characterized the biofilm components in occluding pancreatic stents and investigated potential factors for the formation of the biofilms. Methodology. : The clinical details of 24 patients (M: F, 15: 9) undergoing pancreatic stent retrieval were noted and the retrieved stents were processed for the quantification of biofilm proteins and polysaccharides and the molecular identification of bacteria. Results. : The patients' ages ranged from 16 to 62 years. The underlying indications for stent insertion were bile duct stone prophylaxis against post‐endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) pancreatitis ( n =7; 29.1 %) and pancreatic ductal leaks ( n =17; 70.9 %). The retrieved stent sizes were 5 Fr ( n =5; 20.8 %) and 7 Fr ( n =19; 79.2 %), with a mean insertion duration of 103 days. The polybacteria detected by PCR in 95.8 % of the stents were Pseudomonas ( n =8), Staphylococcus ( n =8), Serratia ( n =5), Aeromonas ( n =4), Proteus ( n =4), Klebsiella ( n =4), Escherichia coli ( n =4), Enterococcus ( n =4), Streptococcus ( n =4), Citrobacter ( n =3), Bacillus ( n =2), Enterobacter ( n =1), Vibrio ( n =1) and Clostridium ( n= 1). Several other organisms were identified by sequencing. The mean protein concentration was 0.585±0.29 mg ml −1 and the mean polysaccharide concentration was 0.054±0.03 mg ml −1 . No significant differences were observed in the quantity of proteins and polysaccharides ( P =0.933) for various factors, namely gender, presence of cholangitis, indications for stenting, stent sizes and duration of indwelling stents. Age was found to be a significant ( P =0.013) factor for protein deposition for those aged >50 years. Conclusion. : The majority of the pancreatic stents grew polymicro‐organisms, and those from patients aged >50 years showed significant deposition of protein, which is a key element in biofilm formation. Understanding the constituents of the biofilms in pancreatic stents could be very useful in developing future strategies for the prevention of biofilm formation.