Effects of subinhibitory concentrations of chlorhexidine and mupirocin on biofilm formation in clinical meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Background: The effects of subinhibitory concentrations (sub-MICs) of antibacterial agents on the biofilm-forming ability of Staphylococcus aureus require further study.

Aim: To investigate the effects of sub-MICs of chlorhexidine and mupirocin on biofilm formation in clinical meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates.

Methods: MRSA isolates were collected from patients with bloodstream infections at a tertiary care hospital. The basal level of biofilm formation and biofilm induction by sub-MICs of chlorhexidine and mupirocin were evaluated by measuring biofilm mass stained with Crystal Violet.

Findings: Of the 112 MRSA isolates tested, 63 (56.3%) and 44 (39.3%) belonged to sequence type (ST)5 and ST72 lineages, respectively, which are the predominant healthcare- and community-associated clones in South Korea. ST5 isolates were more likely to have chlorhexidine MIC ≥4 (73.0% vs 29.5%), resistance to mupirocin (23.8% vs 0%), agr dysfunction (73.0% vs 9.1%), and qacA/B gene (58.7% vs 2.3%) compared to ST72 isolates. The basal level of biofilm formation ability was frequently stronger in ST72 isolates compared to ST5 isolates (77.3% vs 12.7%). Sub-MICs of chlorhexidine and mupirocin promoted biofilm formation in 56.3% and 53.6%, respectively, of all isolates. Biofilm induction was more prevalent in ST5 isolates (85.7% for chlorhexidine, 69.8% for mupirocin) than in ST72 isolates (15.9% for chlorhexidine, 27.3% for mupirocin).

Conclusion: Sub-MICs of chlorhexidine and mupirocin promoted biofilm formation in half of the clinical MRSA isolates. Our results suggest that ST5 MRSA biofilm can be induced together with some other bacterial virulent factors following exposure to chlorhexidine, which might confer a survival advantage to this clone in the healthcare environment.

Keywords: Biofilm; Chlorhexidine; Mupirocin; Staphylococcus aureus.