In vitro biofilm growth on modern voice prostheses

Abstract

Background: Biofilm formation on voice prostheses in laryngectomized patients usually limits the lifetime of the device. The purpose of this study was to compare the biofilm resistance of different valve flaps of modern voice prostheses in an in vitro simulation of an oropharyngeal biofilm.

Methods: Growth of biofilm deposits on valve flaps (n = 12) removed from Provox 2, Provox Vega, Provox ActiValve, Blom Singer Advantage, and Phonax voice prostheses was evaluated and compared to medical-grade silicone (n = 12) in an in vitro biofilm model (22 days) after incubation with a multispecies bacterial-fungal biofilm composition.

Results: The Provox ActiValve and the Blom Singer Advantage prostheses showed significantly less surface biofilm formation than the other prostheses and then silicone.

Conclusion: The use of silver oxide and Teflon as valve flap materials proves to reduce long-term biofilm formation in vitro. The applied model allows rapid screening for novel biofilm-inhibitive materials and durable coatings designated for more biofilm resistant medical devices.

Keywords: ActiValve; Blom Singer Advantage; Phonax; Provox; Provox Vega; biofilm formation; device lifetime; material testing.