Affiliations: [a] Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany | [b] Department for Functional Materials in Medicine and Dentistry, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Sebastian Philipp von Hertzberg-Boelch, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Wuerzburg, König-Ludwig-Haus, 11 Brettreichstrasse, 97074 Wuerzburg, Germany. E-mail: [email protected].
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The formation of biofilms, characterized by cell aggregation and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production, is a common feature of periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). OBJECTIVE: The current study aimed to investigate the development of biofilm features in vitro within less than 3 weeks by Staphylococcus aureus isolated from PJIs. METHODS: Biofilms were grown on sandblasted titanium discs, and fluorescence spectroscopy and microscopy were used to observe biofilm maturation for 21 days. RESULTS: DNA mass decreased initially, then increased from day 5 onwards, and decreased again after day 7. The proportion of living to dead bacteria oscillated until day 7 and increased at day 10 for strain A and day 14 for strain B. EPS mass decreased initially and then continuously increased. Multilayer bacterial organization was observed at day 7. CONCLUSION: Cell aggregation occurred during the first week, followed by EPS production in the second week, and characteristic biofilm features were observed within 1 to 2 weeks.
