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Published on: May 8, 2013
Targeting Biofilm of MDR Providencia stuartii by Phages Using a Catheter Model
Chani Rakov1, Shira Ben Porat1, Sivan Alkalay-Oren1
1Institute of Dental Sciences, School of Dentistry, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 91120, Israel.
Abstract:
Providencia spp. are emerging pathogens mainly in nosocomial infections. Providencia stuartii in particular is involved in urinary tract infections and contributes significantly to the high incidence of biofilm-formation in catheterized patients. Furthermore, recent reports suggested a role for multiple drug resistant (MDR) P. stuartii in hospital-associated outbreaks which leads to excessive complications resulting in challenging treatments. Phage therapy is currently one of the most promising solutions to combat antibiotic-resistant infections. However, the number of available phages targeting Providencia spp. is extremely limited, restricting the use of phage therapy in such cases. In the present study, we describe the isolation and characterization of 17 lytic and temperate bacteriophages targeting clinical isolates of Providencia spp. as part of the Israeli Phage Bank (IPB). These phages, isolated from sewage samples, were evaluated for host range activity and effectively eradicated 95% of the tested bacterial strains isolated from different geographic locations and displaying a wide range of antibiotic resistance. Their lytic activity is demonstrated on agar plates, planktonic cultures, and biofilm formed in a catheter model. The results suggest that these bacteriophages can potentially be used for treatment of antibiotic-resistant Providencia spp. infections in general and of urinary tract infections in particular.
Insights
New bacteriophages effectively target antibiotic-resistant Providencia bacteria, offering a promising solution for challenging hospital-acquired infections, particularly urinary tract infections. This research expands options for phage therapy against drug-resistant pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Bacteriophage Therapy
Background:
- Providencia spp., especially Providencia stuartii, are emerging nosocomial pathogens.
- P. stuartii is linked to urinary tract infections, biofilm formation in catheters, and outbreaks of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains.
- Limited availability of bacteriophages against Providencia spp. hinders phage therapy options.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize bacteriophages targeting clinical isolates of Providencia spp.
- To evaluate the efficacy of these bacteriophages against antibiotic-resistant strains and biofilms.
- To assess the potential of these phages for treating Providencia-associated infections.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and characterization of 17 lytic and temperate bacteriophages from sewage samples.
- Evaluation of phage host range activity against various clinical isolates of Providencia spp.
- Demonstration of lytic activity on agar plates, planktonic cultures, and catheter-associated biofilms.
Main Results:
- The isolated bacteriophages effectively eradicated 95% of tested Providencia strains, including MDR isolates from diverse locations.
- Significant lytic activity was observed against planktonic cultures and biofilms.
- The study identified a valuable collection of phages for the Israeli Phage Bank (IPB).
Conclusions:
- The characterized bacteriophages show strong potential for treating antibiotic-resistant Providencia spp. infections.
- Phage therapy is a viable alternative for managing challenging urinary tract infections caused by these pathogens.
- This research contributes to expanding the arsenal of phages available for combating drug-resistant bacterial infections.
