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Treatment of a cochlear implant biofilm infection: a potential role for alternative antimicrobial agents

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 March 2010

A J Brady ,
T B Farnan ,
J G Toner ,
D F Gilpin  and
M M Tunney
A J Brady*
Affiliation:
Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast Medical Biology Centre, Northern Ireland, UK
T B Farnan
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland, UK
J G Toner
Affiliation:
Department of Otolaryngology, Belfast City Hospital, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Northern Ireland, UK
D F Gilpin
Affiliation:
Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast Medical Biology Centre, Northern Ireland, UK
M M Tunney
Affiliation:
Clinical and Practice Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Queen's University Belfast Medical Biology Centre, Northern Ireland, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Dr A J Brady, 74 Priory Park, Belfast, BT10 0AG, Northern Ireland, UK. Fax: +44(0) 2890247794 E-mail: aaron.brady@qub.ac.uk
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Abstract

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate antimicrobial treatment of an infected cochlear implant, undertaken in an attempt to salvage the infected device.

Methods:

We used the broth microdilution method to assess the susceptibility of meticillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus isolate, cultured from an infected cochlear implant, to common antimicrobial agents as well as to novel agents such as tea tree oil. To better simulate in vivo conditions, where bacteria grow as microcolonies encased in glycocalyx, the bactericidal activity of selected antimicrobial agents against the isolate growing in biofilm were also compared.

Results:

When grown planktonically, the S aureus isolate was susceptible to 17 of the 18 antimicrobials tested. However, when grown in biofilm, it was resistant to all conventional antimicrobials. In contrast, 5 per cent tea tree oil completely eradicated the biofilm following exposure for 1 hour.

Conclusion:

Treatment of infected cochlear implants with novel agents such as tea tree oil could significantly improve salvage outcome.

Keywords

Cochlear implantsBiofilmsTea-Tree Oil
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 124 , Issue 7 , July 2010 , pp. 729 - 738
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2010

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