Fig. 9A–H.
Confocal laser scanning microscopy shows the formation and removal of biofilms on prosthetic materials for S aureus on PE discs (Stains: bacteria were stained green by Syto-9, the biofilm matrix was stained red by FilmTracerTM SYPRO Ruby Matrix Stain; original magnification, x 3000). Disc surfaces (A) before and (B) after DTT treatment, (C) before and (D) after sonication, (E) before and (F) after scraping, and (G) before and (H) after NAC treatment are shown. DTT was the most effective in removing live bacteria from PE discs compared with the other methods. Sonication removed most of the biofilm but not all live bacteria. Biofilm and bacteria removal were not efficient when disc surfaces were scraped. NAC was ineffective in bacterial removal but actively removed biofilm.