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. 2010 Jan 22;7(1):43-7.
doi: 10.7150/ijms.7.43.

Growth of microorganisms in total parenteral nutrition solutions without lipid

Takashi Kuwahara  1 , Shinya Kaneda, Kazuyuki Shimono, Yoshifumi Inoue
Affiliations

Growth of microorganisms in total parenteral nutrition solutions without lipid

Takashi Kuwahara et al. Int J Med Sci. .

Abstract

Background: To identify the microorganisms that can grow rapidly in total parenteral nutrition (TPN) solutions, we investigated the growth of the major causes of catheter-related blood stream infection (Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus cereus, and Candida albicans) in TPN solutions without lipid.

Methods: Experiment 1: A commercial TPN solution without lipid containing multivitamins (pH5.6) was used. A specific number of each test microorganism was added to each 10 mL of the TPN solution and incubated at room temperature. An aliquot of test solution was sampled and inoculated to SCD agar plates at 0, 24, and 48 hrs after the addition of the microorganisms. The number of microorganisms was counted as colony forming units. Experiment 2: The other 2 commercial TPN solutions without lipid (pH5.5) were supplemented with multivitamins. The pH values of the solutions were adjusted to about 6.0, 6.5, or 7.0 using 0.5 mol/L NaOH. The addition of microorganisms, incubation, and counting were performed in the same manner.

Results: Experiment 1: S. aureus, S. marcescens, and B. cereus did not increase in the TPN solution without lipid containing multivitamins (pH5.6), but C. albicans increased rapidly. Experiment 2: The 3 bacterial species did not increase even at pH6.0, but increased at pH6.5 and increased rapidly at pH7.0 in both TPN solutions. C. albicans increased similarly at any pH.

Conclusion: These results suggest that bacterial species cannot grow in TPN solutions without lipid due to the acidity (pH5.6 or lower), but Candida species can grow regardless of the acidity.

Keywords: CRBSI; TPN solution; growth of microorganism; microbial growth; pH.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICT OF INTERESTS: The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Growth of Staphylococcus aureus (a) Serratia marcescens (b), Bacillus cereus (c) and Candida albicans (d) in NP1 (pH5.6, OPR is approximately 4). The data from 3 or 4 strains of each species at 24 and 48 hrs were analyzed using Student's t-test against the initial data (at 0 hr). *, p<0.05 vs 0hr. **, p<0.01 vs 0 hr. OPR, osmotic pressure ratio to physiological saline.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Effect of pH on the growth of Staphylococcus aureus in AT1V (pH55, OPR is approximately 5) and AT2V (pH5.5, OPR is approximately 6). The pH value was adjusted by adding 0.5 mol/L NaOH. OPR, osmotic pressure ratio to physiological saline.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Effect of pH on the growth of Serratia marcescens in AT1V (pH55, OPR is approximately 5) and AT2V (pH5.5, OPR is approximately 6). The pH value was adjusted by adding 0.5 mol/L NaOH. OPR, osmotic pressure ratio to physiological saline.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Effect of pH on the growth of Bacillus cereus in AT1V (pH55, OPR is approximately 5) and AT2V (pH5.5, OPR is approximately 6). The pH value was adjusted by adding 0.5 mol/L NaOH. OPR, osmotic pressure ratio to physiological saline.
Figure 5
Figure 5
Effect of pH on the growth of Candida albicans in AT1V (pH55, OPR is approximately 5) and AT2V (pH5.5, OPR is approximately 6). The pH value was adjusted by adding 0.5 mol/L NaOH. OPR, osmotic pressure ratio to physiological saline.
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References

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