Background: The formation of biofilms is crucial in the pathogenesis of many acute and subacute microbial infections, including chronic wounds and foreign-body-related infections. Topical antimicrobial therapy with chemical antiseptics or physical treatment with tissue-tolerable plasma (TTP) may be promising to control bacterial infection. Methods: We assessed the efficacy of 0.1% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHX), 0.02 and 0.04% polihexanide (polyhexamethylene biguanide, PHMB) and of TTP against Pseudomonas aeruginosa SG81 biofilm grown in microtitre plates (polystyrene) and on silicone materials in an artificial wound fluid. Results: Overall, PHMB was as effective as CHX in reducing the total amount of biofilm (gentian violet assay) and in reducing the bacterial metabolism in biofilms (XTT assay). TTP also led to a significant reduction in colony-forming units. Conclusion: The antimicrobial activity of PHMB in biofilms is comparable to that of CHX. TTP could become an interesting physical alternative to chemical antisepsis in the future.

Keywords:
Chlorhexidine, Polihexanide, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Biofilm efficacy, Tissue-tolerable plasma
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© 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel
2010
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