Fungal biofilms on hemodialysis fluids

Abstract

Fungi can form complex structures associated with surfaces, called biofilms. Environmental factors such as pH, temperature, availability of nutrients and oxygen in addition to the expression of genes that stimulate or inhibit metabolic pathways also influence the adaptation of the planktonic growth (free floating) for the biofilm growth by organisms. However, biofilms in nosocomial microenvironments such as water circuit hemodialysis services or in hemodialysis machines are rarely found in the literature. This study proposes to assess the biofilm formation ability by fungi of the genus Aspergillus, Fusarium and Penicillium in hemodialysis fluids. The isolates used in this study were recovered from water circuit of a hemodialysis hospital service. The fungal biofilm formation ability will be accessed in microplates (96 wells) and crystal violet discoloration methodology determine the biomass of biofilms. The scanning electron microscopy will reveal the morphology and topography of biofilms, while the laser confocal microscopy assist in the disclosure of the matrix and determining the thickness of the same. The study can alert to the need to include fungi, especially in biofilm growth mode, on standardization of water used for dialysis. Currently, the normalizations are focused only on the bacteria growing freely.