Controlling Bacterial Biofilms

The ubiquitous nature of bacteria in the environment, and the role they play in infectious disease has been one of the most extensively researched areas in biomedical science. It has led to tremendous scientific breakthroughs aimed at eradicating a myriad of diseases and improving the overall quality of life. However, within the past 20–30 years, there has been an ACHTUNGTRENNUNGincreased understanding that bacterial biofilms are a major factor in the morbidity and mortality of most infectious diseases. This is significant because bacterial biofilms are resistant to common therapeutic approaches that would eliminate their free-floating (planktonic) counterparts. Biofilms are described as surface-associated communities of microorganisms encased in a protective extracellular matrix. Approximately 80 % of the world’s microbial biomass resides in the biofilm state, and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) estimates that upwards of 75 % of microbial infections that occur in the human body are underpinned by the formation and persistence of biofilms. Common diseases associated with the formation of biofilms include lung infections of individuals who suffer from cystic fibrosis (CF), burn wound infections, otitis media, bacterial endocarditis, and tooth decay (Table 1). 6] Additionally, the