title: Polymicrobial wound infections: pathophysiology and current therapeutic approaches.
abstract: Acute and chronic wounds represent a very common health problem in the entire world. The dermal wounds are colonized by aerobic and anaerobic bacterial and fungal strains, most of them belonging to the resident microbiota of the surrounding skin, oral cavity and gut, or from the external environment, forming polymicrobial communities called biofilms, which are prevalent especially in chronic wounds. A better understanding of the precise mechanisms by which microbial biofilms delay repair processes together with optimizing methods for biofilm detection and prevention may enhance opportunities for chronic wounds healing. The purpose of this minireview is to assess the role of polymicrobial biofilms in the occurrence and evolution of wound infections, as well as the current and future preventive and therapeutic strategies used for the management of polymicrobial wound infections.
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Traian Vuia no. 6, Bucharest 020956, Romania; Otorhinolaryngology, "Carol Davila University" of Medicine and Pharmacy, Traian Vuia no. 6, Bucharest 020956, Romania.
authors.forename: Serban
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bertesteanu
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology Department, AHEPA Hospital, Medical School, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Stefanos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Triaridis
authors.affiliation: Otolaryngology and Ophthalmology Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Nis, Serbia.
authors.forename: Milan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stankovic
authors.affiliation: University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Microbiology Department, Ale. Portocalelor 1-3, 60101 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lazar
authors.affiliation: University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Microbiology Department, Ale. Portocalelor 1-3, 60101 Bucharest, Romania. Electronic address: carmen_balotescu@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mariana Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Chifiriuc
authors.affiliation: Department of Science and Engineering of Oxide Materials and Nanomaterials, Faculty of Applied Chemistry and Material Science, Politehnica University of Bucharest, 011061 Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vlad
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Traian Vuia no. 6, Bucharest 020956, Romania; Otorhinolaryngology, "Carol Davila University" of Medicine and Pharmacy, Traian Vuia no. 6, Bucharest 020956, Romania.
authors.forename: Raluca
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grigore
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms; D006801:Humans; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: Biofilm; Infection; Polymicrobial; Therapy; Vaccination; Wound