THE INFLUENCE OF SUBSTRATUM TOPOGRAPHY ON BACTERIAL ADHESION TO POLYMETHYL METHACRYLATE

The effect of substratum roughness on the adhesion of Pseudomonas aeru ginosa and Staphylococcus epidermidis was investigated using PMMA. A s mall increase in R-a values (0.04-1.24 mu m) resulted in a significant increase (P < 0.05) in bacterial attachment. Subsequent increases in surface roughness (R-a = 1.86-7.89 Cim) resulted in a decrease in adhe sion, although adhesion was still higher than to the smooth surface. W hen the PMMA surfaces were coated with protein (bovine serum albumin), no difference (P < 0.05) could be determined in the amount of protein adsorbed, irrespective of surface topography. However, the influence of the underlying topography on adhesion was still evident. Substratum topography is an important parameter affecting bacterial adhesion to surfaces.