Conditioning fluid influences on the surface properties of silicone and polyurethane peritoneal catheters: implications for infection

Catheter-related infection remains a considerable problem in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD). This study examined the adherence of clinical isolates of Staphylococcus epidermidis to commercially available polyurethane and silicone peritoneal catheters in the presence and absence of a proteinaceous conditioning film. In addition, the effects of the conditioning film on the surface properties (advancing and receding contact angles, and surface rugosity) of these biomaterials were investigated. Bacterial adherence to polyurethane and silicone catheters, pre-treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or artificial spent peritoneal dialysate (ASD) for 1 h at 37 degrees C, was examined using a radiometric (2-H-3-adenine) adherence assay. The advancing and receding contact angles and the surface rugosity of ASD- and PBS-treated biomaterials were examined using a dynamic contact angle analyser and an atomic force microscope, respectively. The bacterial isolates were selected to represent high and low cell surface hydrophobicity. The hydrophobic isolate exhibited both a significantly greater rate and a significantly greater extent of adherence than the hydrophilic isolate to both catheter materials, independent of pre-treatment. In general, pre-treatment of the catheter materials with ASD significantly decreased the subsequent adherence of both isolates owing to the deposition of a conditioning film on the surface of the biomaterial. ASD treatment also decreased both the advancing and receding contact angles and the surface rugosity of both catheter materials. This study highlights the influence of both bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity and biomaterial surface conditioning films on bacterial adherence to CAPD catheters. In addition, it is recommended that the effects of proteinaceous conditioning films on biomaterial surface properties should be considered when assessing materials for medical devices and products.