[Adhesion and slime production by wild and clinical strains of Acinetobacter baumannii]. / Adhezja oraz wytwarzanie sluzu zewnatrzkomórkowego przez dzikie i kliniczne szczepy paleczek Acinetobacter baumannii.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: Adhesion of bacteria to the surface plays a key role in the development of infection, and is the first stage of biofilm formation. The ability of A. baumannii strains to adhesion and forming biofilms on abiotic surfaces, as well as eucaryotic cells was described.A. baumannii is also capable of secretion of the exopolysaccharide (EPS) - a substance that allows the binding of bacterial cells to the surface, and with each other. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of biofilm formation and slime production by wild-type and clinical strains of A. baumannii. METHODS: We examinated 51 strains ofA. baumannii, including 14 isolated from lower respiratory tract, 17 from wound swabs and 20 from the soil. Adhesion to polystyrene was evaluated by modified Christensen methods and slime production by Ishiguro method. RESULTS: Adhesion to polystyrene was observed in 51,0% of strains, including 70,0% of wild-type and 38,7% of clinical strains (64,7% strains from wound swabs and one strain from lower respiratory tract). Slime production was found in 31,4% of strains, of which the largest (42.9%) group strains were isolated from lower respiratory tract. There was no correlation between production of extracellular slime, and the adhesion of strains to polystyrene. CONCLUSIONS: Different levels of expression of virulence factors in A. baumannii strains isolated from different origin indicates their importance in the colonisation ecological niches and the development of infections at various sites.