Use of an oxonol dye in combination with confocal laser scanning microscopy to monitor damage to Staphylococcus aureus cells during colonisation of silver-coated vascular grafts

• Published in: International journal of antimicrobial agents 2004-09, Vol.24 (3), p.234-240
• Main Authors: Strathmann, Martin, Wingender, Jost
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Barbiturates; Biofilm; Biofilms - drug effects; Biofilms - growth & development; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Vessel Prosthesis - microbiology; Cell Membrane - physiology; Colony Count, Microbial; Confocal microscopy; DNA, Bacterial - analysis; Fluorescent Dyes; Isoxazoles; Medical sciences; Microscopy, Confocal; Oxonol; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Silver - pharmacology; Silver-coating; Staining and Labeling; Staphylococcus aureus; Staphylococcus aureus - drug effects; Staphylococcus aureus - growth & development; Staphylococcus aureus - ultrastructure; Vascular graft
• ISSN: 0924-8579; 1872-7913
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2003.03.001

The antimicrobial silver-coating of medical prostheses is regarded as a means to reduce the risk of bacterial colonisation after implantation. The effect of a silver-coating of vascular grafts on biofilm formation was assessed in batch cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, using confocal laser scanning microscopy. Total cells in biofilms were analysed by staining with the DNA-binding fluorochrome SYTO 62 and the proportion of damaged cells was quantified with the membrane potential-sensitive dye bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol. Both the extent of biofilm formation and the proportion of viable biofilm cells were significantly diminished on the surface of the silver-coated vascular grafts compared with uncoated controls, probably due to the antimicrobial activity of silver ions released from the silver-coated graft surface.