Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (1999) 44, 43-55
© 1999 The British Society for Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Antibiotic susceptibility assay for Staphylococcus aureus in biofilms developed in vitro

a CSIC Department of Animal Health and Production, Agricultural Research Service (SIA-DGA), PO Box 727, 50080 Zaragoza b Department of Microbiology, University Clinics, 31080 Pamplona c Cytology Research Institute, Amadeo de Saboya,4, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Four slime-producing isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were used in an antibiotic
susceptibility assay for biofilms developed on 96-well polystyrene tissue culture plates. The
study involved 11 antibiotics, two biofilm ages (6 and 48 h), two biofilm growth media (tryptone
soy broth (TSB) and delipidated milk) and three antibiotic concentrations (4 x MBC, 100
mg/L and 500 mg/L). ATP-bioluminescence was used for automated bacterial viability
determination after a 24 h exposure to antibiotics, to avoid biofilm handling. Under the
conditions applied, viability in untreated biofilms (controls) was lower when biofilm growth was
attempted in milk rather than in TSB. Various antibiotics had a greater effect on viability when
used at higher (
100 mg/L) antibiotic concentrations and on younger (6 h) biofilms. Increased
antibiotic effect was observed in milk-grown rather than TSB-grown biofilms. Phosphomycin
and cefuroxime, followed by rifampicin, cefazolin, novobiocin, vancomycin, penicillin,
ciprofloxacin and tobramycin significantly affected biofilm cell viability at least under some of
the conditions tested. Gentamicin and erythromycin had a non-significant effect on cell viability.
Transmission electron microscopy revealed that cells at the inner biofilm layers tend to remain
intact after antibiotic treatment and that TSB-grown biofilms favoured a uniformity of cell
distribution and increased cell density in comparison with milk-grown biofilms. A reduced
matrix distribution and enhanced cell density were observed as the biofilm aged. The S.
aureus biofilm test discriminated antibiotics requiring shorter (3 h or 6 h) from those
requiring longer (24 h) exposure and yielded results which may be complementary to those
obtained by conventional tests.
* Corresponding author. Department of Animal Health, Agricultural Research Service (SIA-DGA), Montañana Road, 176, 50016, Zaragoza, Spain. Tel: +32-976-57-63-36; Fax: +32-976-57-55-01; E-mail: beatriz{at}mizar.csic.es
Present address: Exopol S.L., Polígono Río
Gállego, Calle D, Parc. 8; S. Mateo de Gállego, 50840 Zaragoza, Spain.
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