BIOFILMS FORMED BY MYCOBACTERIUM ABSCESSUS SUBSP. BOLLETII IN THE PRESENCE OF SUBINHIBITORY CONCENTRATIONS OF GLUTARALDEHYDE - A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.64671/ts.v21i5.177Keywords:
Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii, Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus, Glutaraldehyde, BiofilmAbstract
Introduction: In 2008, the National Health Surveillance Agency (Anvisa) released a technical note, stating that from 2003 to 2008, more than 2,000 cases of hospital infections by rapidly growing mycobacteria had been reported in private hospitals in the country, mainly related to procedures videolaparoscopic procedures. A common factor was the predominance of a particular Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. bolletii, which mainly affected the patients' skin and subcutaneous cellular tissue. After these outbreaks, several measures were taken by Anvisa, including the suspension of chemical sterilization by immersing surgical instruments in any liquid sterilizing agent. The investigations concluded that the outbreaks were due to failures in the reprocessing of critical medical equipment, which were mainly sterilized using 2% glutaraldehyde. These decisions were based on empirical observations, based exclusively on the observation of what was happening in hospital practice. To date, the relationship of M. abscessus subsp. bolletii and its high tolerance to glutaraldehyde. This study aimed to evaluate biofilm formation of M. abscessus subsp. bolletii, from an epidemic outbreak in Brazil, and M. abscessus subsp. abscessus, a reference strain, at different concentrations of glutaraldehyde. Methodology: The biofilms were developed in polycarbonate and stainless-steel discs for colony-forming units analysis and cell culture plates for analysis of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Results: The results of the comparative analysis of biofilm formation by M. abscessus subsp. bolletii demonstrated that the microorganism was able to form biofilm on both disc types, even at high concentrations of glutaraldehyde. There was a reduction in the formation of biofilm when exposed to concentrations of 1.0% and 1.5% of glutaraldehyde, without being destroyed. M. abscessus subsp. abscessus was also able to form biofilm on both disc types, but biofilm was destroyed at glutaraldehyde concentrations of 1.0% and 1.5%. The two strains analyzed by CLSM developed biofilm after 7 and 14 days of incubation. It was also observed the presence of viable cells in the biofilm, even after 14 days of growth, in the presence of high concentrations of glutaraldehyde. Conclusions: These results confirmed the ability of the M. abscessus species to survive and develop in glutaraldehyde and may be related to the occurrence of the outbreaks. We hope that the data obtained from this work can effectively contribute to the control and prevention of these infections, as it is a serious matter of national public health.
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