The Influence of Octenidine Dihydrochloride on Bacterial Biofilm on the Surface of a Polypropylene Mesh

Abstract

Deep surgical site infections (DSSI’s) involving the implanted biomaterial remain an important issue in hernia surgery. The etiological factors include Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The ability of these microorganisms to create a biofilm on the surface of the implant is considered to be one of the main reasons why successful treatment of DSSI’s is not an easy task. It is widely agreed that an important element of a successful treatment plan for infections involving biofilm formation is the use of agents capable of penetrating the biofilm matrix, and displaying a satisfactory efficacy against the microorganisms present within. Antiseptic agents meet the above criteria.

The goal of this study was to evaluate the influence of a solution of octenidine dihydrochloride (Octenisept) on the biofilm present on a surface of a monofilament polypropylene mesh implant.

The study involved 140 bacterial strains from the collection of the Department of Microbiology Nicolaus Copernicus University Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland. The strains included 70 (50%) S. aureus isolates and 70 (50%) E. coli isolates. The influence of an antiseptic agent on the created biofilm was evaluated with the use of a qualitative and quantitative method, as well as by scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

In the qualitative assessment, the observed effect of octenidine was a diminished intensity of biomaterial staining after incubation with TTC in comparison to samples from the control group. In the quantitative study, the live cell counts of S. aureus and E. coli isolated from the biofilm present on the implant surface, after exposure to the antiseptic agent were found to be diminished. SEM studies have shown that exposure to octenidine hydrochloride decreases the number of bacteria adhering to the biomaterial surface.

The Octenisept octenidine dihydrochloride solution displays bactericidal activity against S. aureus and E. coli bacteria present in the biofilm created on the surface of monofilament polypropylene mesh.