Biofilms cause chronic infections

Biofilms and chronic infections.

The role of bacterial biofilms in chronic infections.

Acute infections caused by pathogenic bacteria have been studied extensively for well over 100 years. These infections killed millions of people in previous centuries, but they have been combated effectively by the development of modern vaccines, antibiotics and infection control measures. Most research into bacterial pathogenesis has focused on acute infections, but these diseases have now bee...

Nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae biofilms: role in chronic airway infections

Like many pathogens inhabiting mucosal surfaces, nontypeable Haemophilus influenzae (NTHi) forms multicellular biofilm communities both in vitro and in various infection models. In the past 15 years much has been learned about determinants of biofilm formation by this organism and potential roles in bacterial virulence, especially in the context of chronic and recurrent infections. However, thi...

Biofilms in endodontic infections

Biofilm biology has become an expanding field of research in human, industrial and environmental ecosystems. The knowledge accumulated suggests that organisms growing in biofilms develop properties different to those dwelling in the planktonic state. On surveying the endodontic literature it is obvious that this realization and the fact that biofilms afford the resident microorganisms protectio...

Biofilms and device-associated infections.

Microorganisms commonly attach to living and nonliving surfaces, including those of indwelling medical devices, and form biofilms made up of extracellular polymers. In this state, microorganisms are highly resistant to antimicrobial treatment and are tenaciously bound to the surface. To better understand and control biofilms on indwelling medical devices, researchers should develop reliable sam...