In vitro adherence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli to biomaterial surfaces: Effect of conditioning film

In our recent study of patients attending a government hospital and a private medical laboratory in the Nigerian city of Zaria. we not only reported an increase in antibiotic resistance in urinary isolates of Escherichia coli but also the fact that the resistant isolates originated from an environment in which antibiotics were frequently used. The implication of the resistance on the adherence characteristics of these isolates is the main objective of this study. Using a laboratory model, we assessed the in vitro adherence to biologically inert surfaces of five representative antibiotic-resistant isolates with a view to finding any possible relationship between their resistance and adherence. Bacteria adhered poorly to the surfaces Adhesion was enhanced, reduced or uninfluenced by conditioning the adhering surface with urine or serum depending on the adhering bacteria or type of biomaterials. There was no apparent relationship between the antibiotic resistance of these isolates and their adherence Our observations suggest that the risk of biomatenal-associated infections is determined by both the adhering bacteria and type of biomaterial.