Bacterial adherence and biofilm formation on latex and silicone T-tubes in relation to bacterial contamination of bile

: Koivusalo A, Mäkisalo H, Talja M, Siitonen A, Vuopio-Varkila J, Ruutu M, Höckerstedt K

: 1996

: Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology

: Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology

: Scand J Gastroenterol

: 31

: 4

: 398

: 403

: 6

: 0036-5521

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3109/00365529609006417

T-tube-related bacteriobilia causes infectious complications and obstruction. To prevent these, the choice of T-tube material may be of importance.\nTransected common bile ducts (CBDs) of 17 piglets were sutured over latex or silicone T-tubes, or without a T-tube.\nAfter 6 weeks bacteriobilia was found in all of 12 CBDs with and in 1 of 5 CBDs without a T-tube (p < 0.05). By scanning electron microscopy (SEM) four of five latex and none of five silicone T-tubes had bacterial biofilms (p < 0.05). All tubes remained patent. Segments of T-tubes were incubated with five different bacterial strains. Sonication and SEM showed that 0.1-1.1% of 10(7) colony-forming units of inoculum adhered to T-tubes. Two to six times more bacteria adhered to latex than to silicone (p < 0.05).\nSilicone offers better long-term patency than latex. Less infectious complications occur if T-tubes are omitted.\nBACKGROUND\nMETHODS\nRESULTS\nCONCLUSIONS