A Rapid Bioluminescence Method for Quantifying Bacterial Adhesion to Polystyrene

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Abstract
Bioluminescence ATP analysis was used to assess bacterial adhesion with hydrophobic polystyrene tubes as the attachment surface. The assay was performed at 37.degree. C and pH 6.8 with a 10 min incubation period. A variation of > 200-fold was observed in the adherence capacity of 34 urinary isolates of Escherichia coli; organisms were classified as strongly or weakly adherent. All strains capable of strong adhesion possessed type 1 fimbriae and flagella; maximum adhesion was expressed during the exponential growth phase. Attachment was in all cases virtually eliminated by addition of 2.5% (wt/vol) D-mannose to the incubation buffer. Strains which were deficient in type 1 fimbriae and/or flagella were weakly adherent during all phases of growth. There was no correlation between adherence of E. coli to polystyrene and adherence to buccal or uroepithelial cells; there was a significant association with adherence to uromucoid (P < 0.002).