title: Microbial Biofilms in Pulmonary and Critical Care Diseases.
abstract: Microbial biofilms can colonize medical devices and human tissues, and their role in microbial pathogenesis is now well established. Not only are biofilms ubiquitous in natural and human-made environments, but they are also estimated to be associated with approximately two-thirds of nosocomial infections. This multicellular aggregated form of microbial growth confers a remarkable resistance to killing by antimicrobials and host defenses, leading biofilms to cause a wide range of subacute or chronic infections that are difficult to eradicate. We have gained tremendous knowledge on the molecular, genetic, microbiological, and biophysical processes involved in biofilm formation. These insights now shape our understanding, diagnosis, and management of many infectious diseases and direct the development of novel antimicrobial therapies that target biofilms. Bacterial and fungal biofilms play an important role in a range of diseases in pulmonary and critical care medicine, most importantly catheter-associated infections, ventilator-associated pneumonia, chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections in cystic fibrosis lung disease, and Aspergillus fumigatus pulmonary infections.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Pediatrics, and.
authors.forename: Andree-Anne
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Boisvert
authors.affiliation: 2 Department of Medicine, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Matthew P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: 3 Departments of Medicine, Microbiology, and Immunology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, and.|4 Infectious Diseases in Global Health Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and.
authors.forename: Don C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Sheppard
authors.affiliation: 5 Meakins-Christie Laboratories, and Translational Research in Respiratory Diseases Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: Dao
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D055499:Catheter-Related Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D016638:Critical Illness / Q000628:therapy; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D053717:Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: biofilms; catheter-associated infections; chronic pulmonary infections; cystic fibrosis; ventilator-acquired pneumonia