title: New approaches to the treatment of biofilm-related infections.
abstract: Bacteria causing chronic infections predominately grow as surface-attached, sessile communities known as biofilms. Biofilm-related infections including cystic fibrosis lung infection, chronic and recurrent otitis media, chronic wounds and implant- and catheter-associated infections, are a significant cause of morbidity and mortality and financial cost. Chronic biofilm-based infections are recalcitrant to conventional antibiotic therapy and are often unperturbed by host immune responses such as phagocytosis, despite a sustained presence of host inflammation. The diagnosis of clinically important biofilm infections is often difficult as Koch's postulates are rarely met. If treatment is required, surgical removal of the infected implant, or debridement of wound or bone, is the most efficient means of eradicating a clinically significant biofilm. New approaches to treatment are under investigation.
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, C Level, West Wing, Mailpoint 218, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilkins
authors.affiliation: NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, C Level, West Wing, Mailpoint 218, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK; Microbial Infection and Immunity, Centre for Microbial Interface Biology, The Ohio State University, 793 Biomedical Research Tower, 460 W. 12th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43210-2210, USA.
authors.forename: Luanne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hall-Stoodley
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, C Level, West Wing, Mailpoint 218, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK.
authors.forename: Raymond N
authors.initials: RN
authors.lastname: Allan
authors.affiliation: Academic Unit of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Institute of Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; NIHR Wellcome Trust Clinical Research Facility, C Level, West Wing, Mailpoint 218, University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust, Tremona Road, Southampton, SO16 6YD, UK. Electronic address: s.faust@soton.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Saul N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Faust
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Bacterial infection; Clinical biofilm infection; Diagnosis; Pathophysiology; Treatment