title: Antimicrobial resistance, respiratory tract infections and role of biofilms in lung infections in cystic fibrosis patients.
abstract: Lung infection is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with cystic fibrosis and is mainly dominated by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The biofilm mode of growth makes eradication of the infection impossible, and it causes a chronic inflammation in the airways. The general mechanisms of biofilm formation and antimicrobial tolerance and resistance are reviewed. Potential anti-biofilm therapeutic targets such as weakening of biofilms by quorum-sensing inhibitors or antibiotic killing guided by pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antibiotics are presented. The vicious circle of adaptive evolution of the persisting bacteria imposes important therapeutic challenges and requires development of new drug delivery systems able to reach the different niches occupied by the bacteria in the lung of cystic fibrosis patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Costerton Biofilm Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Oana
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ciofu
authors.affiliation: Institute of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Costerton Biofilm Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tolker-Nielsen
authors.affiliation: Institute of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Costerton Biofilm Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Peter Østrup
authors.initials: PØ
authors.lastname: Jensen
authors.affiliation: Institute of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Costerton Biofilm Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Hengzhuang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Institute of International Health, Immunology and Microbiology, Costerton Biofilm Centre, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. Electronic address: hoiby@hoibyniels.dk.
authors.forename: Niels
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Høiby
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D008168:Lung / Q000382:microbiology*; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: Biofilm; Cystic fibrosis; Pseudomonas aeruginosa