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. 2007 Jun;27(3):134-8.

Biofilm formation by Haemophilus influenzae isolated from adeno-tonsil tissue samples, and its role in recurrent adenotonsillitis

J Galli  1 , L Calò, F Ardito, M Imperiali, E Bassotti, G Fadda, G Paludetti
Affiliations

Biofilm formation by Haemophilus influenzae isolated from adeno-tonsil tissue samples, and its role in recurrent adenotonsillitis

J Galli et al. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2007 Jun.

Abstract
in English, Italian

Aim of the present study was to identify bacterial biofilms in tissue samples obtained from paediatric patients undergoing surgical treatment, for chronic and recurrent adeno-tonsillitis, not responding to repeated cycles of selective medical antibiotic and anti-inflammatory treatment and to assay the ability of Haemophilus influenzae strains, most frequently identified in the culture examinations, to grow as biofilm in vitro. Overall, 25 surgical specimens (15 adenoids, 10 tonsils) were examined from the upper respiratory tract, from 15 paediatric patients (mean age 6 years). All patients were affected by recurrent and/or chronic adenoiditis and adenotonsillitis unresponsive to selective antibiotic and anti-inflammatory therapy. Tissues were cultured using conventional methods and subjected to scanning electron microscopy for detection of biofilm. Haemophilus influenzae strains, were cultured on 96-sterile well polystyrene microtitre plates (CELLSTAR-greiner bio-one) and stained with 1% crystal violet to quantify biofilm production. Bacterial cocci attached to the tissue surface and organized in colonies, with a morphology consistent with bacterial coccoid biofilms, were observed in all adenoid (15/15) and in 6/10 tonsil samples. Haemophilus influenzae isolates from 12/25 (48%) of our tissue samples scored a percent transmittance (%T(bloc)) > 50, displaying a high capacity to form biofilms (level 4). In conclusion identification of bacterial biofilms in chronic and/or recurrent paediatric upper airway inflammatory processes and the capacity to produce biofilm in vitro, demonstrated by Haemophilus influenzae (the most frequently identified bacteria in our samples), could be related to the aetiopathogenic role of biofilms in chronic inflammatory mucosal reactions and to the resistance of these infections to selective antibiotic therapy.

L’obiettivo del presente studio è stato identificare biofilm batterici in campioni di tessuto ottenuti da pazienti pediatrici sottoposti a terapia chirurgica per adenotonsilliti croniche/ricorrenti, resistenti a cicli ripetuti di terapia antibiotica e anti-infiammatoria mirata, e determinare la capacità dei ceppi di Haemophilus influenzae, identificati più frequentemente nei nostri esami colturali, di formare biofilm in vitro. Abbiamo esaminato 25 campioni chirurgici (15 adenoidi e 10 tonsille) delle alte vie aeree, ottenuti da 15 pazienti pediatrici (età media: 6 anni). Tutti i pazienti erano affetti da adenotonsilliti ricorrenti e/o adenoiditi croniche non responsive alla terapia antibiotica e anti-infiammatoria mirata. I tessuti venivano messi in coltura utilizzando metodi convenzionali e esaminati al microscopio elettronico a scansione per l’identificazione dei biofilms. I ceppi di Haemophilus influenzae venivano cresciuti su 96 piastre sterili di polistirene (CELLISTAR-greiner bio-one) e colorati con cristal-violetto all’1% per quantificare la produzione di biofilm. Abbiamo osservato cocchi batterici adesi alla superficie tessutale e organizzati in colonie, con una morfologia compatibile con quella dei biofilm batterici coccoidi, in tutti i campioni di tessuto adenoideo (15/15) e in 6/10 di tessuto tonsillare. I ceppi di Haemophilus influenzae, isolati in 12/25 (48%) dei nostri campioni di tessuto, presentavano una trasmittanza percentuale (%Tbloc) > 50, identificando una elevata capacità di formare biofilms (livello 4). In conclusione l’identificazione di biofilm batterici nei processi infiammatori cronici e/o ricorrenti delle alte vie aeree in età pediatrica e la capacità di produrre biofilm in vitro, dimostrata dall’Haemophilus influenzae (batterio più frequentemente identificato nei nostri campioni), potrebbero essere correlate al ruolo eziopatogenetico dei biofilm nelle reazioni infiammatorie croniche mucosali e alla resistenza di queste infezioni alla terapia antibiotica mirata.

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Figures

Fig. 1a, b.
Fig. 1a, b.
SEM evidence of bacterial biofilms in samples of adenoid tissue of paediatric patients with recurrent/chronic adenotonsillitis.
Fig. 1a, b.
Fig. 1a, b.
SEM evidence of bacterial biofilms in samples of adenoid tissue of paediatric patients with recurrent/chronic adenotonsillitis.
Fig. 2a, b.
Fig. 2a, b.
SEM evidence of bacterial biofilms in samples of tonsil tissue of paediatric patients with recurrent/chronic adenotonsillitis.
Fig. 2a, b.
Fig. 2a, b.
SEM evidence of bacterial biofilms in samples of tonsil tissue of paediatric patients with recurrent/chronic adenotonsillitis.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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