The application of biofilm science to the study and control of chronic bacterial infections

Abstract

Unequivocal direct observations have established that the bacteria that cause device-related and other chronic infections grow in matrix-enclosed biofilms. The diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that have served us so well in the partial eradication of acute epidemic bacterial diseases have not yielded accurate data or favorable outcomes when applied to these biofilm diseases. We discuss the potential benefits of the application of the new methods and concepts developed by biofilm science and engineering to the clinical management of infectious diseases.

The role of bacterial biofilms and the pathophysiology of chronic rhinosinusitis

“…A biofilm consists of an organized community of bacteria adherent to a mucosal surface or foreign body, situated in an extensive extracellular polymeric substance (glycocalyx) composed primarily of polysaccharides, but also containing protein and DNA [7]. The glycocalyx is a mosaic of bacterial colonies that possesses varying phenotypes and different physiochemical properties.…”

General Model of Inflammation

“…Bacteria are controlled by macrophage cells that engulf and digest them. For mathematical simplicity, these bacteria do not interfere with the immune cells or defend themselves via biofilm formation (Costerton et al, 2003;Jesaitis et al, 2003) or through other means. The variable designation and parameter definitions described above can be found in Tables 1 and 2. This model has the ability to simulate healthy behavior as well as chronic inflammation in the presence or absence of the bacteria.…”

Measuring antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa using Poloxamer 407 gel

“…As a biofilm matures, the extracellular matrix thickens, providing physical protection to the resident bacteria and increasing their tolerance to a variety of stresses. Infections with Pseudomonas aeruginosa frequently become chronic due to biofilm formation, which leads to suppressed antibiotic and white blood cell penetration and a decrease in antimicrobial agent effectiveness [11,12]. The antibiotics used to treat an infection are generally selected according to the antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated pathogen, which are commonly measured by either the microbrothdilution or disk-diffusion methods.…”