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. 2021 Aug;18(4):519-524.
doi: 10.1111/iwj.13551. Epub 2021 Feb 5.

Significant presence of biofilm-producing gut-derived bacteria in anal fistula of chronic duration

Prakhar Jaiswal  1 , Swati Sharma  2 , Arvind Pratap  1 , Mumtaz Ansari  1 , Vijay K Shukla  1 , Somprakas Basu  3 , Tuhina Banerjee  2
Affiliations

Significant presence of biofilm-producing gut-derived bacteria in anal fistula of chronic duration

Prakhar Jaiswal et al. Int Wound J. 2021 Aug.

Abstract

Fistula-in-ano though not a life-threatening condition, yet its symptoms often significantly impact patients' social, intimate, and work lives. There is an established role of bacterial microflora in acute infections. However, we proposed that biofilm-forming organisms might be present in the microflora of anal fistula of prolonged duration. This aspect has rarely been studied earlier. Therefore, the study describes the microbiology of anal fistula and the biofilm-forming capacity of the isolated organisms. A total of 30 patients were included in the study as per the criteria. Anal fistula tissue sample, tissue fluid, and blood samples were collected from each individual. The collected specimens were detected for the presence of aerobic and anaerobic microflora through standard microbiological method and polymerase chain reaction. Furthermore, the role of biofilm formation by microtitre plate assay and serum matrix metalloproteinases-9 was also studied. The result showed significant predominance of gut-derived microflora with high-to-moderate biofilm-producing ability in anal fistulas of prolonged duration. The study emphasises the presence of biofilm-forming bacteria in chronic, non-healing fistula.

Keywords: E. coli; MMP9; anaerobic; microtiter plate assay; persistent.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Microtitre plate assay for detection of biofilm formation in microorganisms
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Degree of biofilm formation among the gut‐derived bacteria
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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