Exploration of bacterial biofilm formation on mesh implants used in surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.17

Shalepo K.V., Khusnutdinova T.A., Budilovskaya O.V., Krysanova A.A., Rusina E.I., Tsypurdeeva A.A., Yarmolinskaya M.I., Savicheva A.M.
D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, St. Petersburg, Russia

Objective. To explore in vitro bacterial biofilm formation on mesh implants used in surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.
Materials and methods. The study used six fragments of medical mesh implants: polypropylene meshes Reperen, Russia (KS1), Gynemesh PS, USA (KS2), and titanium mesh Titanium Silk, Russia (KS3). Clinical bacterial isolates were obtained from the vaginal biotope. Biofilm forming bacteria were Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus agalactiae, and Candida albicans. Biofilm formation capacity was determined in polystyrene flat-bottom plates. After co-cultivation of bacterial isolates and mesh fragments for 24 and 48 hours, biofilm formation on the bottom of the plate well and on the mesh surface was determined in optical density (OD) units.
Results. Bacterial biofilm formation did not occur on the surface of the investigated mesh implants within 24 or 48 hours. Optical density of the eluent during co-cultivation of polypropylene mesh and S. aureus was 0.174 and 0.179 after 24 and 48 hours, respectively, that was similar to OD of the negative control. Similar results were obtained for other investigated mesh implants.
Conclusion. Polypropylene and titanium mesh materials are highly resistant to microbial colonization and biofilm formation on their surfaces.

Authors' contributions. Shalepo K.V. – methodology, the study design and coordination, manuscript writing and editing; Khusnutdinova T.A., Budilovskaya O.V., Krysanova A.A. – participation in manuscript writing and editing; Rusina E.I. – study coordination, participation in manuscript writing and editing; Tsypurdeeva A.A., Yarmolinskaya M.I. – manuscript editing, approval of the final manuscript version; Savicheva A.M. – the study concept and coordination, manuscript editing, approval of the final manuscript version. The authors declare their authorship in compliance with the ICMJE criteria. The authors have made a significant contribution to the analytical search and preparation of the manuscript, read and approved the final version for publication.
Conflicts of interest. The authors confirm that they have no conflict of interest to declare.
Funding. The study was conducted within the framework of Fundamental scientific research topic No. 1024032800068-4-3.2.2 “Development of treatment strategies aimed at active longevity of women”.
Ethical Approval. The study was approved by the Expert Commission of D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology on January 13, 2026.
Authors' Data Sharing Statement. The data supporting the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
For citation: Shalepo K.V., Khusnutdinova T.A., Budilovskaya O.V., Krysanova A.A., Rusina E.I.,
Tsypurdeeva A.A., Yarmolinskaya M.I., Savicheva A.M. Exploration of bacterial biofilm formation
on mesh implants used in surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (5): 99-106 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.17

bacterial biofilms

vaginal microorganisms

mesh implant

Full text (in Russian)

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Received 11.01.2026

Accepted 23.04.2026

Kira V. Shalepo, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Experimental Microbiology Group, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 3 Mendeleyevskaya Line, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia, +7(911)247-41-51, 2474151@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/ 0000-0002-3002-3874
Tatiana A. Khusnutdinova, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Experimental Microbiology Group, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 3 Mendeleyevskaya Line, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia, husnutdinovat@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2742-2655
Olga V. Budilovskaya, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Experimental Microbiology Group, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 3 Mendeleyevskaya Line, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia, o.budilovskaya@gmail.com, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7673-6274
Anna A. Krysanova, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Experimental Microbiology Group, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 3 Mendeleyevskaya Line, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia, krusanova.anna@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4798-1881
Elena I. Rusina, Dr. Med. Sci., Leading Researcher at the Experimental Microbiology Group, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 3 Mendeleyevskaya Line, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia, pismo_rusina@mail.ru, eLibrary SPIN: 3527-5104, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8744-678X
Anna A. Tsypurdeeva, PhD, Senior Researcher at the Department of Gynecology and Endocrinology and Head of Gynecology Department I with an operating unit,
D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductology, 3 Mendeleyevskaya Line, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia, tsypurdeeva@mail.ru,
eLibrary SPIN: 5208-9707, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7774-2094
Maria I. Yarmolinskaya, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Professor of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Head of the Department of Gynecology and Endocrinology, Head of the Center of Diagnostics and Treatment of Endometriosis, D.O. Ott Research Institute of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 3 Mendeleyevskaya Line, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia, m.yarmolinskaya@gmail.com, eLibrary SPIN: 3686-3605, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6551-4147
Alevtina M. Savicheva, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Honored Scientist of the Russian Federation, Head of the Department of Medical Microbiology, D.O. Ott Research Institute
of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductology, 3 Mendeleyevskaya Line, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia, savitcheva@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/ 0000-0003-3870-5930
Corresponding author: Kira V. Shalepo, 2474151@mail.ru

Exploration of bacterial biofilm formation on mesh implants used in surgical treatment of pelvic organ prolapse

Shalepo K.V., Khusnutdinova T.A., Budilovskaya O.V., Krysanova A.A., Rusina E.I., Tsypurdeeva A.A., Yarmolinskaya M.I., Savicheva A.M.

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