Original Article

Oxybutynin Effects on Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilm Production

Authors: Abdullah Gedik, MD, Ahmet Ersay, MD, Selahattin Atmaca, MD, Alper Sener, MD

Abstract

Background: Oxybutynin is a tertiary amine and has chemical similarities like protamine sulfate. Protamine sulfate's effect on bacterial viability has been shown in some studies; however, there is scanty data regarding the effect of oxybutynin on bacterial viability. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of oxybutynin on bacterial viability.


Methods: Twenty of Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) strains were isolated from patients who had catheter-associated urinary tract infection. These strains were exposed to 5 different concentrations of oxybutynin in tryptic soy broth (TSB) media (max: 5 mg/mL, min: 0.05 mg/mL). Quantitative growth patterns were measured by spectrophotometer. Under the same media conditions, biofilm production of individual strains was measured by Deighton's micromethod at the end of the 6-hour incubation period.


Results: After the incubation period, weak and strong slime-producing bacteria groups were obtained and both groups’ slime productions were extensively low at 5 mg/mL concentration of oxybutynin. Slime production of S. epidermidis was inversely correlated with oxybutynin concentrations.


Conclusion: Although there was a dose-dependent reduction of biofilm production, there seemed to be no bactericidal effect of oxybutynin on S. epidermidis.


Key Points


* Biofilm production of Staphylococcus epidermidis could be affected by oxybutynin.


* Twenty Staphylococcus epidermidis strains were isolated from patients who had a catheter-associated urinary tract infection.


* Biofilm production of individual strains was measured in both groups; “weak and strong slime-producing” slime production was extensively low at 5 mg/mL concentration of oxybutynin.


* The slime production of Staphylococcus epidermidis was inverse in proportion to oxybutynin concentration.

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