Effect of environmental factors on biofilm formation by clinicalStenotrophomonas maltophilia isolates

The influence of environmental factors (temperature, aerobiosis-anaerobiosis, static-dynamic conditions, pH) was determined on biofilm formation by 51S. maltophilia clinical isolates. The strains produced more biofilm at 32 °C than at 37 or 18 °C. Aerobic and 6 % CO2 atmosphere yielded comparable biofilm amounts, higher than under anaerobic conditions. Biofilm production was not affected by staticvs. agitated culture conditions. Biofilm production at pH 7.5 and 8.5 was comparable but significantly higher than at pH 5.5. The capacity of individual strains to form biofilm and thus contribute to the severity of some diseases is influenced by host traits and environmental conditions at the site of infection, and play an important role in the pathogenesis of biomaterial-related disease caused byS. maltophilia.