Abstract

Bacteria have traditionally been regarded as individual organisms growing in homogeneous planktonic populations. However, bacteria in natural environments usually form communities of surface-adherent organisms embedded in an extracellular matrix, called biofilms. Current antimicrobial strategies often fail to control bacteria in the biofilm mode of growth. Treatment failure is particularly frequent in association with intracorporeal or transcutaneous medical devices and compromised host immunity. The rising prevalence of these risk factors over the last decades has paralleled the increase in biofilm infections. This review discusses the shortcomings of current therapies against biofilms both in theory and with clinical examples. Biofilm characteristics are described with a focus on new diagnostic and therapeutic targets.

Keywords

BiofilmBacteriaAntimicrobialBiologyMicrobiologyIntensive care medicineMedicine

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Year
2003
Type
article
Volume
1
Issue
4
Pages
667-683
Citations
263
Access
Closed

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Christoph A. Fux, Paul Stoodley, Luanne Hall‐Stoodley et al. (2003). Bacterial biofilms: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Expert Review of Anti-infective Therapy , 1 (4) , 667-683. https://doi.org/10.1586/14787210.1.4.667

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DOI
10.1586/14787210.1.4.667