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. 2023 Apr 6:13:1137947.
doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1137947. eCollection 2023.

Understanding bacterial biofilms: From definition to treatment strategies

Ailing Zhao  1 , Jiazheng Sun  2 , Yipin Liu  1
Affiliations

Understanding bacterial biofilms: From definition to treatment strategies

Ailing Zhao et al. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. .

Abstract

Bacterial biofilms are complex microbial communities encased in extracellular polymeric substances. Their formation is a multi-step process. Biofilms are a significant problem in treating bacterial infections and are one of the main reasons for the persistence of infections. They can exhibit increased resistance to classical antibiotics and cause disease through device-related and non-device (tissue) -associated infections, posing a severe threat to global health issues. Therefore, early detection and search for new and alternative treatments are essential for treating and suppressing biofilm-associated infections. In this paper, we systematically reviewed the formation of bacterial biofilms, associated infections, detection methods, and potential treatment strategies, aiming to provide researchers with the latest progress in the detection and treatment of bacterial biofilms.

Keywords: antibiotic resistance; bacterial biofilms; biofilm detection; infection; treatment.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Steps to bacterial biofilm formation. (A) Reversible attachment. (B) Irreversible attachment. (C) Bacterial cells synthesize and secrete EPS. (D) Maturation. (E) Dispersal.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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