Enhancement of Acinetobacter baumannii biofilm growth by cephem antibiotics via enrichment of protein and extracellular DNA in the biofilm matrices

AIMS: The aims were to determine the effects of subinhibitory concentrations of eight cephem and carbapenem antibiotics on the biofilm formation of Acinetobacter baumannii cells and examine their effects on pre‐established biofilms. METHODS AND RESULTS: Effects of antibiotics on biofilm formation were assayed using microtitre plates with polystyrene peg‐lids. Cefmetazole, ceftriaxone, ceftazidime and cefpirome increased the biomass of pre‐established biofilms on pegs in the range of their sub‐minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), whereas none increased biofilm formation by planktonic cells. Carbapenems had a negative effect. The constituents of antibiotic‐induced biofilms were analysed. Ceftriaxone or ceftazidime treatment markedly increased the matrix constituent amounts in the biofilms (carbohydrate, 2.7‐fold; protein, 8.9–12.7‐fold; lipid, 3.3–3.6‐fold; DNA, 9.1–12.2‐fold; outer membrane vesicles, 2.7–3.8‐fold and viable cells, 6.8–10.1‐fold). The antibiotic‐enhanced biofilms had increased outer membrane protein A and were resistant to the anti‐biofilm effect of azithromycin. CONCLUSIONS: Some cephems increased the biomass of pre‐established biofilms in the ranges of their sub‐MICs. The antibiotic‐enhanced biofilms possessed more virulent characteristics than normal biofilms. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Incomplete administration of certain cephems following biofilm‐related Ac. baumannii infections could adversely cause exacerbated and chronic clinical results.