Development of bacterial biofilms on silastic catheter materials in peritoneal dialysis fluid.

A modified Robbins' device was used to monitor the growth of bacteria associated with clinical peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis fluid. To simulate bacterial colonization and biofilm formation on peritoneal catheters, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli were allowed to adhere to silastic disks and were then grown in fresh or used dialysis fluid. Adherent bacteria formed microcolonies and biofilms on silastics within 4 to 24 hours. Our data showed that colonization of the silastic disks was related to the quantity of bacteria and there were significant differences between the growth of adherent bacteria in fresh and used dialysis fluid. Adherent S epidermidis and P aeruginosa grew better in dialysis fluids than adherent E coli. These results suggest that S epidermidis and P aeruginosa are more likely to colonize silastic catheters and to cause catheter-related peritonitis in peritoneal dialysis patients than E coli.