AUTHOR=Felix LewisOscar , Whitely Cutler , Tharmalingam Nagendran , Mishra Biswajit , Vera-Gonzalez Noel , Mylonakis Eleftherios , Shukla Anita , Fuchs Beth Burgwyn 

TITLE=Auranofin coated catheters inhibit bacterial and fungal biofilms in a murine subcutaneous model

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2023.1135942

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2023.1135942

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=<p>Microbe entry through catheter ports can lead to biofilm accumulation and complications from catheter-related bloodstream infection and ultimately require antimicrobial treatment and catheter replacement. Although strides have been made with microbial prevention by applying standardized antiseptic techniques during catheter implantation, both bacterial and fungal microbes can present health risks to already sick individuals. To reduce microbial adhesion, murine and human catheters were coated with polyurethane and auranofin using a dip coating method and compared to non-coated materials. Upon passage of fluid through the coated material <italic>in vitro</italic>, flow dynamics were not impacted. The unique antimicrobial properties of the coating material auranofin has shown inhibitory activity against bacteria such as <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> and fungi such as <italic>Candida albicans</italic>. Auranofin coating on catheters at 10mg/mL reduced <italic>C</italic>. <italic>albicans</italic> accumulation <italic>in vitro</italic> from 2.0 x 10<sup>8</sup> to 7.8 x 10<sup>5</sup> CFU for mouse catheters and from 1.6 x 10<sup>7</sup> to 2.8 x 10<sup>6</sup> for human catheters, showing an impact to mature biofilms. Assessment of a dual microbe biofilm on auranofin-coated catheters resulted in a 2-log reduction in <italic>S</italic>. <italic>aureus</italic> and a 3-log reduction in <italic>C</italic>. <italic>albicans</italic> compared to uncoated catheters. <italic>In vivo</italic> assessment in a murine subcutaneous model demonstrated that catheters coated with 10 mg/mL auranofin reduced independent <italic>S</italic>. <italic>aureus</italic> and <italic>C</italic>. <italic>albicans</italic> accumulation by 4-log and 1-log, respectively, compared to non-coated catheters. In conclusion, the auranofin-coated catheters demonstrate proficiency at inhibiting multiple pathogens by decreasing <italic>S</italic>. <italic>aureus</italic> and <italic>C</italic>. <italic>albicans</italic> biofilm accumulation.</p>