Influence of dynamic conditions on biofilm formation by staphylococci.

The modified microtiter plate test was used to investigate biofilm formation by staphylococci under both static and dynamic conditions. The quantity of biofilm produced under static conditions was used as a reference. Dynamic conditions, which were achieved by incubating microtiter plates on a horizontal shaker with and without the presence of glass beads in wells, either reduced biofilm formation or left it unchanged. Dynamic conditions particularly affected the capacity of certain species to produce biofilm: these species included the causative agents of infections associated with a foreign body (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus aureus). On the basis of these results, dynamic conditions should be included as a parameter for evaluating biofilm formation by staphylococci in vitro.