Effects of subinhibitory concentrations of florfenicol on morphology, growth, and viability of Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus strain Newman was investigated for changes in its growth pattern, its morphology and its viability when grown in the presence of 3 mug/ml florfenicol (Ff). This concentration corresponds to the 0.75-fold strain-specific minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). Under these conditions, S. aureus Newman showed a distinct retardation in its growth pattern and 20% dead cells were detected in a fluorescence microscopic viability assay. However, bactericidal activity - defined as a 3-log drop in the staphylococcal population - was not recorded at this Ff concentration. Further analysis of the cell wall revealed a significant increase in cell wall thickness of S. aureus Newman when grown in the presence of 3 mug/ml Ff. This might result in a compression of the protoplast with subsequent disruption of single staphylococcal cells. Accordingly, 20% of the staphylococcal cells analysed by electron microscopy proved to be disrupted. These observations suggest that Ff can cause a thickening of the cell wall accompanied by impaired viability of the staphylococcal cells.