The role of biofilms in otolaryngologic infections
The role of biofilms in otolaryngologic infections
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Bacterial biofilms have recently been shown to be important in diseases of the head and neck. Because the concept of biofilms is novel to most practitioners, it is important to gain a basic understanding of biofilms and to recognize that strategies developed to treat planktonic bacteria are ineffective against bacteria in a biofilm. RECENT FINDINGS: Bacteria preferentially exist in complex, surface-attached organizations known as biofilms. Bacteria in biofilms express a different set of genes than their planktonic counterparts and have markedly different phenotypes. Biofilm bacteria communicate with each other, and have mechanisms to diffuse nutrients and dispose of waste. Biofilms provide bacteria with distinct advantages, including antimicrobial resistance and protection from host defenses. Thus, bacteria exist in a far more complex fashion than previously thought and can best be thought of as "self-assembling multicellular communities." Although a focus on the planktonic form of bacteria has been useful in understanding acute infections, chronic infections are much better understood as biofilm illnesses. Biofilms have been shown to be involved in chronic otitis media, chronic tonsillitis, cholesteatoma, and device-associated infections. SUMMARY: Now that basic research has demonstrated that the vast majority of bacteria exist in biofilms, the biofilm concept of disease is beginning to spread throughout the clinical world. Understanding that many of the infections that affect structures of the head and neck are actually biofilm related is fundamental to developing rational strategies for treatment and prevention.
185-190
Post, J. Christopher
832cfa58-9254-4396-8c8f-6fb18cc6c18c
Stoodley, Paul
08614665-92a9-4466-806e-20c6daeb483f
Hall-Stoodley, Luanne
94ebdc00-b549-4488-b15f-5310fb965f5b
Ehrlich, Garth D.
aa8e5162-77a6-4627-a793-acd724ed0782
June 2004
Post, J. Christopher
832cfa58-9254-4396-8c8f-6fb18cc6c18c
Stoodley, Paul
08614665-92a9-4466-806e-20c6daeb483f
Hall-Stoodley, Luanne
94ebdc00-b549-4488-b15f-5310fb965f5b
Ehrlich, Garth D.
aa8e5162-77a6-4627-a793-acd724ed0782
Post, J. Christopher, Stoodley, Paul, Hall-Stoodley, Luanne and Ehrlich, Garth D.
(2004)
The role of biofilms in otolaryngologic infections.
Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, 12 (3), .
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Bacterial biofilms have recently been shown to be important in diseases of the head and neck. Because the concept of biofilms is novel to most practitioners, it is important to gain a basic understanding of biofilms and to recognize that strategies developed to treat planktonic bacteria are ineffective against bacteria in a biofilm. RECENT FINDINGS: Bacteria preferentially exist in complex, surface-attached organizations known as biofilms. Bacteria in biofilms express a different set of genes than their planktonic counterparts and have markedly different phenotypes. Biofilm bacteria communicate with each other, and have mechanisms to diffuse nutrients and dispose of waste. Biofilms provide bacteria with distinct advantages, including antimicrobial resistance and protection from host defenses. Thus, bacteria exist in a far more complex fashion than previously thought and can best be thought of as "self-assembling multicellular communities." Although a focus on the planktonic form of bacteria has been useful in understanding acute infections, chronic infections are much better understood as biofilm illnesses. Biofilms have been shown to be involved in chronic otitis media, chronic tonsillitis, cholesteatoma, and device-associated infections. SUMMARY: Now that basic research has demonstrated that the vast majority of bacteria exist in biofilms, the biofilm concept of disease is beginning to spread throughout the clinical world. Understanding that many of the infections that affect structures of the head and neck are actually biofilm related is fundamental to developing rational strategies for treatment and prevention.
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Published date: June 2004
Organisations:
Engineering Mats & Surface Engineerg Gp
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Local EPrints ID: 157125
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/157125
PURE UUID: 2c1f464c-055d-421f-9518-c78a16cb4019
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Date deposited: 09 Jun 2010 10:43
Last modified: 09 Jan 2022 03:32
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Author:
J. Christopher Post
Author:
Luanne Hall-Stoodley
Author:
Garth D. Ehrlich
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