Year: 2012
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Healthcare associated infections (HCAIs) are a large and growing problem. \nBacterial infections of patients and on the medical devices used to treat \nthem represent a significant source of morbidity and mortality. There is also \na significant economical impact to the healthcare system attributed to \nHCAIs. While bacterial infections per se are not a novel problem, the \ndiscovery of an adherent polymicrobial phenotype called a biofilm is. A \nbiofilm is defined by its structure and the community of bacteria therein. \nThis study investigated bacteria biofilms in a number of pertinent clinical \nscenarios. To achieve this, samples were taken from five different but \nrelated clinical areas where biofilms are known to infect or are suspected to, \nnamely endotracheal tubes, tracheostomy tubes, burn wounds, chronic \nwounds and chronic wound dressings. Samples were analysed using \nmicrobiological and molecular analysis techniques, the latter included \npolymerase chain reactions, species-specific PCR and denaturing gradient \ngel electrophoresis to assess microbial diversity. Fluorescent in-situ \nhybridization was used subsequently to analyse species orientation and \nbiofilm structure within the biofilm. This study showed a diverse bacterial \npopulation in all the samples, with the presence of oral biota in the ETT \nspecimens, changing to commensal bacteria over time. Large threedimensional \nbiofilm structures were present in the specimens confirming \nthe presence of biofilms, and within one of the chronic wound dressings \nwhere a complex biofilm was visible within the matrix of the dressing itself. \nThese findings have considerable significance clinically, not only in \ndemonstrating the need for biofilm targeted diagnostic techniques, but also \nin highlighting the need for specific biofilm treatment modalities in critical \ncare, burn services and chronic wound management.
Author: Scott Cairns
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Cardiff University
OpenAlex ID: W1836301703