Bacterial biofilm in upper respiratory tract infections.
The upper respiratory tract is of easy access to pathogens, and although it has evolved a number of defensive barriers to avoid invasion, acute and chronic infections of the ears, nose, and throat are common and present a huge challenge to the healthcare system. Though most infections are viral, mild, and self-limiting, bacterial infection is responsible for considerable morbidity and has potential for life-threatening sequelae. Biofilms form when free-floating planktonic organisms adhere to a surface. Within a polymicrobial, biofilm organisms interact, exchanging metabolites, enzymes, and genetic material. The colony is protected, allowing bacteria to thrive in otherwise unfavorable conditions. A role for the biofilm in upper respiratory tract infections has been proposed because infections often run a persistent, remitting course, samples are sometimes difficult to culture, and resistance to medical management is common. This review presents recently published evidence of bacterial biofilms in established upper respiratory tract infections.
Morris
David P
DP
Division of Otolaryngology, Dalhousie University, Room 3037, 3rd Floor Dickson Building, University Avenue, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. dp.morris@dal.ca