The Functional Resistance of Biofilms

Abstract

Antimicrobial drug tolerance/resistance exhibited by cells embedded in biofilm appears to be multifactorial, involving mechanisms similar to conventional planktonic antimicrobial drug resistance due to spontaneous mutations, secondary acquisition of drug resistance determinants from external sources through mobile genetic elements such as plasmids or transposons, and increased efflux pump activity governed by biofilm specific transcriptional regulators. In addition, mechanisms specific to the biofilm lifestyle of the organism can also confer unprecedented antimicrobial drug tolerance (otherwise known as resistance to the killing action of the antibiotic) even at high concentrations. Microbial biofilms have emerged as a significant clinical problem in the treatment and management of many infectious diseases over the last two decades. There are several reasons for the steady increase in the frequency of microbial biofilm being recognized in clinical settings, especially the increased use of life-saving or quality of life improving artificial devices. The existence of microbial biofilms impacts the treatment and care of patients suffering from infectious diseases in numerous ways. This chapter describes the known mechanisms of high level drug tolerance/resistance exhibited by biofilm and its implications in areas affecting the treatment of infectious diseases. The Functional Resistance of Biofilms | Request PDF. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/318169171_The_Functional_Resistance_of_Biofilms [accessed Jan 14 2018].