Biofilm Formation on Medical Devices and Infection: Preventive Approaches

Abstract

Biofilm formation on medical devices is a serious problem associated with deaths resulting from nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections. This chapter reviews strategies to control microbial adhesion to, and colonization of, medical surfaces using cell repellant and nonadhesive coatings, coatings that actively release antimicrobial compounds and biofilm inhibitors, antimicrobial coatings with tethered biocides, and coatings that promote competitive adherence of benign organisms. Antifouling materials such as PEGylated and zwitterionic polymers, silicone hydrogels, fluorinated amphiphilic polymers, natural polysaccharides, glycodendron-functionalized synthetic polymers, polymers tethered with antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin, antimicrobial cationic polymers and peptides, and functionalized polyhydroxyalkanoates are discussed. Controlled release coatings that deliver quorum sensing inhibitors such as 5,6-dimethyl-2-aminobenzimidazole, and antimicrobial species such as ceragenin, nitrofurantoin, nitric oxide, gallium and zinc complexes, silver ions, silver nanoparticles, and selenium nanoparticles are also reviewed.