A review of bacterial biofilms and their role in device-associated infection
Karen Vickery A B , Honghua Hu A , Anita Simone Jacombs A , David Alan Bradshaw A and Anand Kumar Deva A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Australian School of Advanced Medicine, Macquarie University, 2 Technology Place, North Ryde, NSW, 2109, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: karen.vickery@mq.edu.au
Healthcare Infection 18(2) 61-66 https://doi.org/10.1071/HI12059
Submitted: 28 November 2012 Accepted: 30 January 2013 Published: 23 April 2013
Abstract
Background: Most of the world’s bacteria live in biofilms, three-dimensional clusters attached to surfaces. Many hospital-acquired infections are associated with biofilm infections of implantable medical devices such as orthopaedic prostheses and intravascular catheters. Within biofilms, bacteria are significantly less susceptible to antibiotics and host defences, making biofilm infections difficult to diagnose and treat, and often necessitating removal of the infected implant.
Method: In this review article we describe the process of biofilm formation, quorum sensing, and biofilm infection of the healthcare environment, surgical instruments and implantable medical devices.
Conclusion: The inability to treat biofilm-infected devices means that therapies targeting biofilm-specific processes and targeting prevention of biofilm formation are required.
Additional keywords: biofilms, biomaterial-related infections, environmental contamination, implant-related infections, infection control, staphylococci, surgical infection.
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