Biofilm in implant infections: Its production and regulation

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1: Costerton JW, Montanaro L, Arciola CR. Related

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Biofilm in implant infections: Its production and

regulation.

Int J Artif Organs. 2005 Nov;28(11):1062-8.

PMID: 16353112 [PubMed - in process]

Int J Artif Organs. 2005 Nov;28(11):1062-8. Related

Articles, Links

Biofilm in implant infections: Its production and

regulation.

Costerton JW, Montanaro L, Arciola CR.

Center for Biofilms, School of Dentistry, University

of Southern California, Los Angeles, California - USA.

A significant proportion of medical implants become

the focus of a device-related infection, difficult to

eradicate because bacteria that cause these infections

live in well-developed biofilms. Biofilm is a

microbial derived sessile community characterized by

cells that are irreversibly attached to a substratum

or interface to each other, embedded in a matrix of

extracellular polymeric substances that they have

produced. Bacterial adherence and biofilm production

proceed in two steps: first, an attachment to a

surface and, second, a cell-to-cell adhesion, with

pluristratification of bacteria onto the artificial

surface. The first step requires the mediation of

bacterial surface proteins, the cardinal of which is

similar to S. aureus autolysin and is denominated

AtlE. In staphylococci the matrix of extracellular

polymeric substances of biofilm is a polymer of

beta-1,6-linked N-acetylglucosamine (PIA), whose

synthesis is mediated by the ica operon. Biofilm

formation is partially controlled by quorum sensing,

an interbacterial communication mechanism dependent on

population density. The principal implants that can be

compromised by biofilm associated infections are:

central venous catheters, heart valves, ventricular

assist devices, coronary stents, neurosurgical

ventricular shunts, implantable neurological

stimulators, arthro-prostheses, fracture-fixation

devices, inflatable penile implants, breast implants,

cochlear implants, intraocular lenses, dental

implants. Biofilms play an important role in the

spread of antibiotic resistance. Within the high dense

bacterial population, efficient horizontal transfer of

resistance and virulence genes takes place. In the

future, treatments that inhibit the transcription of

biofilm controlling genes might be a successful

strategy in inhibiting these infections.A significant

proportion of medical implants become the focus of a

device-related infection, difficult to eradicate

because bacteria that cause these infections live in

well-developed biofilms. Biofilm is a microbial

derived sessile community characterized by cells that

are irreversibly attached to a substratum or interface

to each other, embedded in a matrix of extracellular

polymeric substances that they have produced.

Bacterial adherence and biofilm production proceed in

two steps: first, an attachment to a surface and,

second, a cell-to-cell adhesion, with

pluristratification of bacteria onto the artificial

surface. The first step requires the mediation of

bacterial surface proteins, the cardinal of which is

similar to S. aureus autolysin and is denominated

AtlE. In staphylococci the matrix of extracellular

polymeric substances of biofilm is a polymer of

beta-1,6-linked N-acetylglucosamine (PIA), whose

synthesis is mediated by the ica operon. Biofilm

formation is partially controlled by quorum sensing,

an interbacterial communication mechanism dependent on

population density. The principal implants that can be

compromised by biofilm associated infections are:

central venous catheters, heart valves, ventricular

assist devices, coronary stents, neurosurgical

ventricular shunts, implantable neurological

stimulators, arthro-prostheses, fracture-fixation

devices, inflatable penile implants, breast implants,

cochlear implants, intra-ocular lenses, dental

implants. Biofilms play an important role in the

spread of antibiotic resistance. Within the high dense

bacterial population, efficient horizontal transfer of

resistance and virulence genes takes place. In the

future, treatments that inhibit the transcription of

biofilm controlling genes might be a successful

strategy in inhibiting these infections