Synergy of Chemical and Mechanical Approaches to Limit Bacterial Fouling

Clinically, biofilm-associated infections commonly form on intravascular catheters and other hydrogel surfaces. For example, annually in the United States, biofilms formed on intravascular catheters are linked to 250,000 blood stream infections with an associated mortality rate of 1225%. To inactivate microbes, antibacterial agents have been released from polymer catheters. However, the overuse of antibiotics to treat these infections has led to the spread of antibiotic resistance and underscores the importance of developing alternative strategies that delay the onset of biofilm formation. Thus, new, greener strategies that slow the rate by which bacteria attach to a surface without exerting evolutionary pressure on microorganisms are needed.