Bacteriophage treatment of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae in a multispecies biofilm: a potential biocontrol strategy for healthcare facilities

Details

• Alternative Title:
  AIMS Microbiol
• Personal Author:
  Santiago, Ariel J. ; Burgos-Garay, Maria L. ; Kartforosh, Leila ; Mazher, Mustafa ; Donlan, Rodney M.
• Description:
  The p-traps of hospital handwashing sinks represent a potential reservoir for antimicrobial-resistant organisms of major public health concern, such as carbapenemase-producing KPC+ | (CPKP). Bacteriophages have reemerged as potential biocontrol agents, particularly against biofilm-associated, drug-resistant microorganisms. The primary objective of our study was to formulate a phage cocktail capable of targeting a CPKP strain (CAV1016) at different stages of colonization within polymicrobial drinking water biofilms using a CDC biofilm reactor (CBR) p-trap model. A cocktail of four CAV1016 phages, all exhibiting depolymerase activity, were isolated from untreated wastewater using standard methods. Biofilms containing |, |, |, |, |, and | were established in the CBR p-trap model for a period of 28 d. Subsequently, CAV1016 was inoculated into the p-trap model and monitored over a period of 21 d. Biofilms were treated for 2 h at either 25 °C or 37 °C with the phage cocktail (10| PFU/ml) at 7, 14, and 21 d post-inoculation. The effect of phage treatment on the viability of biofilm-associated CAV1016 was determined by plate count on m-Endo LES agar. Biofilm heterotrophic plate counts (HPC) were determined using R2A agar. Phage titers were determined by plaque assay. Phage treatment reduced biofilm-associated CAV1016 viability by 1 log| CFU/cm| (p < 0.05) at 7 and 14 d (37 °C) and 1.4 log| and 1.6 log| CFU/cm| (p < 0.05) at 7 and 14 d, respectively (25 °C). No significant reduction was observed at 21 d post-inoculation. Phage treatment had no significant effect on the biofilm HPCs (p > 0.05) at any time point or temperature. Supplementation with a non-ionic surfactant appears to enhance phage association within biofilms. The results of this study suggest the potential of phages to control CPKP and other carbapenemase-producing organisms associated with microbial biofilms in the healthcare environment.
• Subjects:
  Bacteriophage Biofilms Carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella Pneumoniae Healthcare-associated Infections Research Article
• Source:
  AIMS Microbiol. 2020; 6(1):43-63
• Pubmed ID:
  32226914
• Pubmed Central ID:
  PMC7099197
• Document Type:
  Journal Article
• Volume:
  6
• Issue:
  1
• Collection(s):
  CDC Public Access
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha256:7edac7571e1c099c2e3ba222be152d6d4c468d6b52b28736db5d02a37a131bcc
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/92621/cdc_92621_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 917.92 KB ]