The Inhibitory Effects of a Novel Gel on Staphylococcus aureus Biofilms

• Main Author: Vance, Lindsey
• Format: Others
• Published: Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University 2018
• Subjects: biofilm; staphylococcus aureus; antibiotic resistance; Bacteria; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Medical Microbiology
• Online Access: https://dc.etsu.edu/honors/435; https://dc.etsu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1476&context=honors

Antibiotic resistance is an ever-growing topic of concern within the medical field causing researchers to examine the mechanisms of resistance to develop new antimicrobials. Bacteria’s ability to form biofilms is one mechanism which aids in antimicrobial resistance. Staphylococcus aureus is of special interest as it is one of the most frequent biofilm-forming bacteria found on medical devices causing infections and posing dangerous threats in a clinical setting. A recently developed antimicrobial gel has been shown to have profound effects on treating bacterial infections and wound healing. This research is centered upon examining the antimicrobial effects of this gel on the three different stages of biofilm formation in clinical and laboratory strains of S. aureus. Through a series of experiments examining the effects this gel has on S. aureus at the stages of biofilm attachment, maturation, and dispersion, the gel has shown significant levels of inhibition. These findings indicate that the novel gel disrupts biofilm forming processes of S. aureus, which provides useful information for fighting infections in the medical field. Further research on the uses and effects of this new gel could lead possibility using the antimicrobial compound for a variety of clinical purposes.