Disruption of the Enterococcus faecalis-Induced Biofilm on the Intraocular Lens Using Bacteriophages.

Purpose: To compare the effects of bacteriophages (phages) and vancomycin on Enterococcus faecalis-induced biofilms on the intraocular lens.

Methods: E. faecalis strains EF24, GU02, GU03, and phiEF14H1 were used. The expression of the enterococcus surface protein (esp) gene was analyzed using polymerase chain reaction. Phages or vancomycin was added to the biofilms formed on culture plates or acrylic intraocular lenses. The biofilms were quantified after staining with crystal violet. The structure of the biofilms was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.

Results: E. faecalis strains EF24, GU02, and GU03 formed biofilms on cell culture plates; however, the esp-negative GU03 strain had a significantly lower biofilm-forming ability than the esp-positive strains EF24 and GU02. The addition of phiEF14H1 resulted in a significant reduction in biofilm mass produced by both EF24 and GU02 compared with the untreated control. However, the addition of vancomycin did not degrade the biofilms. Phages significantly degraded biofilms and reduced the viable EF24 and GU02 bacteria on the intraocular lens.

Conclusions: Phages can degrade biofilms formed on the intraocular lens and destroy the bacteria within it. Thus, phage therapy may be a new treatment option for refractory and recurrent endophthalmitis caused by biofilm-forming bacteria.

Translational relevance: Phage therapy, a novel treatment option for refractory and recurrent endophthalmitis caused by biofilm-forming bacteria, effectively lyses E. faecalis-induced biofilms.