Moderate Production of Biofilm by Clinical isolates of E. coli and Pseudomonas spp in Burkina Faso

Background: I nfections caused by biofilm-producing microbes are associated with common human illnesses that are difficult to treat due to antibiotic resistance, especially when the bacteria also produce beta-lactamases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of clinical strains of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas spp that produce beta-lactamases to produce biofilm. Methods: The study involved two clinical strains of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas spp that produce beta-lactamases and were isolated from pus samples at the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Pédiatrique Charles de Gaulle of Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. Biofilm production was assessed using the microtiter plate-based crystal violet assay, with the PA01 WT strain used as a positive control for biofilm production. Biofilm was quantified by measuring optical densities with a spectrophotometer. Results: The E. coli strain was resistant to cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and ceftazidime, while in addition to these antibiotics, Pseudomonas spp was resistant to imipenem. Both strains were beta-lactamase producers confirmed by the detection of bla NDM and bla IMP genes in E. coli and bla NDM , bla CTX and bla SHV in Pseudomonas spp . Optical density measurements after crystal violet staining showed that both strains were moderate biofilm producers. Conclusions: This study highlights that clinical isolates of E. coli and Pseudomonas spp , which are responsible for human infections and produce beta-lactamases, are also moderate biofilm producers. This is a real public health concern requiring surveillance efforts and investigations to prevent and effectively combat this form of resistance.