Antibiotic-induced biofilm formation
Int J Artif Organs 2011; 34(9): 737 - 751
Article Type: REVIEW
DOI:10.5301/ijao.5000027
Authors
Jeffrey B. Kaplan
Abstract
Surface-attached colonies of bacteria known as biofilms play a major role in the pathogenesis of device-related infections. Biofilm colonies are notorious for their resistance to suprainhibitory concentrations of antibiotics. Numerous studies have shown that subminimal inhibitory concentrations of some antibiotics can act as agonists of bacterial biofilm formation in vitro, a process that may have clinical relevance. This article reviews studies demonstrating that low-dose antibiotics induce bacterial biofilm formation. These studies have provided important information about the regulation of biofilm formation and the signaling pathways involved in global gene regulation in response to cell stressors. It is still unclear whether antibiotic-induced biofilm formation contributes to the inconsistent success of antimicrobial therapy for device infections.
Article History
- • Accepted on 01/06/2011
- • Published in print on 17/11/2011
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Authors
- Kaplan, Jeffrey B.
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Department of Oral Biology, New Jersey Dental School, Newark, NJ - USA
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