Biofilms are protective coatings that bacteria and fungus form to protect themselves from drug as antibiotic or anti-fungal treatment. So my question is: Can bacterial or fungal Biofilms cause infections?
Definitely yes
Article Biofilm infections, their resilience to therapy and innovativ...
Best Regards Wesam Salah Ibrahim
@wesam
Biofilm with out gene and protein from bacteria or fungi can not produce infection.
Biofilm-related infections: bridging the gap between clinical management and fundamental aspects of recalcitrance toward antibiotics.
Surface-associated microbial communities, called biofilms, are present in all environments. Although biofilms play an important positive role in a variety of ecosystems, they also have many negative effects, including biofilm-related infections in medical settings. The ability of pathogenic biofilms to survive in the presence of high concentrations of antibiotics is called "recalcitrance" and is a characteristic property of the biofilm lifestyle, leading to treatment failure and infection recurrence. This review presents our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms of biofilm recalcitrance toward antibiotics and describes how recent progress has improved our capacity to design original and efficient strategies to prevent or eradicate biofilm-related infections.
Article Biofilm-Related Infections: Bridging the Gap between Clinica...
Biofilm-related infections in ophthalmology.
A biofilm is a functional consortium of microorganisms organised within an extensive exopolymer matrix. Organisms within a biofilm are difficult to eradicate by conventional antimicrobial therapy and can cause indolent infections. This paper reviews the pathophysiology of biofilms and their application of ophthalmology. Under certain environmental conditions such as nutrient limitation, some bacteria may secrete and reside in an exopolysaccharide glycocalyx polymer. This confers relative protection from humoral and cellular immunity, antibiotics and surfactants. Biofilms occur in natural aquatic ecosystems, on ship hulls, in pipelines and on the surface of biomaterials. They cause clinical infections of prosthetic hip joints, heart valves and catheters. Biofilm formation may occur rapidly on contact lenses and their cases and hence contribute to the pathogenesis of keratitis. Formation of biofilms is also implicated in delayed post-operative endophthalmitis and crystalline keratopathy. Bacteria within biofilms are 20-1000 times less sensitive to antibiotic than free-living planktonic organisms. Existing experimental methods for modifying biofilm include the use of macrolide antibiotics that specifically impair biofilm production, and the use of enzymes to digest it. These may have clinical applications, as potential adjunctive therapies to antibiotic treatment, for these resistant infections. In conclusion, biofilm is an important cause of infections associated with biomaterials. Novel strategies are needed to deal with these.
https://www.nature.com/articles/eye199516
Impact of polymicrobial biofilms in catheter-associated urinary tract infections.
Recent reports have demonstrated that most biofilms involved in catheter-associated urinary tract infections are polymicrobial communities, with pathogenic microorganisms (e.g. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae) and uncommon microorganisms (e.g. Delftia tsuruhatensis, Achromobacter xylosoxidans) frequently co-inhabiting the same urinary catheter. However, little is known about the interactions that occur between different microorganisms and how they impact biofilm formation and infection outcome. This lack of knowledge affects CAUTIs management as uncommon bacteria action can, for instance, influence the rate at which pathogens adhere and grow, as well as affect the overall biofilm resistance to antibiotics. Another relevant aspect is the understanding of factors that drive a single pathogenic bacterium to become prevalent in a polymicrobial community and subsequently cause infection. In this review, a general overview about the IMDs-associated biofilm infections is provided, with an emphasis on the pathophysiology and the microbiome composition of CAUTIs. Based on the available literature, it is clear that more research about the microbiome interaction, mechanisms of biofilm formation and of antimicrobial tolerance of the polymicrobial consortium are required to better understand and treat these infections.
Central venous catheters and biofilms: where do we stand in 2017?
The use of central venous catheters (CVC) is associated with a risk of microbial colonization and subsequent potentially severe infection. Microbial contamination of the catheter leads to the development of a microbial consortia associated with the CVC surface and embedded in an extracellular matrix, named biofilm. This biofilm provides bacterial cells the ability to survive antimicrobial agents and the host immune system and to disseminate to other sites of the body. The best preventive strategy is to avoid any unnecessary catheterization or to reduce indwelling duration when a CVC is required. Beside aseptic care and antibiotic-impregnated catheters (like minocycline/rifampin), preventive locks can be proposed in some cases, whereas non-biocidal approaches are under active research like anti-adhesive or competitive interactions strategies. When the diagnosis of catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) is suspected on clinical symptoms, it requires a microbiological confirmation by paired blood cultures in order to avoid unnecessary catheter removal. The treatment of CRBSI relies on catheter removal and systemic antimicrobials. However, antibiotic lock technique (ALT) can be used as an attempt to eradicate biofilm formed on the inside lumen of the catheter in case of uncomplicated long-term catheter-related BSI caused by coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) or Enterobacteriaceae. Recently, promising strategies have been developed to improve biofilm eradication; they rely on matrix degradation or destabilization or the development of anti-persister compounds, targeting the most tolerant bacterial cells inside the biofilm. Understanding biofilm formation at the molecular level may help us to develop new approaches to prevent or treat these frequent infections.
Bacterial biofilm and associated infections
Microscopic entities, microorganisms that drastically affect human health need to be thoroughly investigated. A biofilm is an architectural colony of microorganisms, within a matrix of extracellular polymeric substance that they produce. Biofilm contains microbial cells adherent to one-another and to a static surface (living or non-living). Bacterial biofilms are usually pathogenic in nature and can cause nosocomial infections. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) revealed that among all microbial and chronic infections, 65% and 80%, respectively, are associated with biofilm formation. The process of biofilm formation consists of many steps, starting with attachment to a living or non-living surface that will lead to formation of micro-colony, giving rise to three-dimensional structures and ending up, after maturation, with detachment. During formation of biofilm several species of bacteria communicate with one another, employing quorum sensing. In general, bacterial biofilms show resistance against human immune system, as well as against antibiotics. Health related concerns speak loud due to the biofilm potential to cause diseases, utilizing both device-related and non-device-related infections. In summary, the understanding of bacterial biofilm is important to manage and/or to eradicate biofilm-related diseases. The current review is, therefore, an effort to encompass the current concepts in biofilm formation and its implications in human health and disease.
Biofilm infections, their resilience to therapy and innovative treatment strategies
Biofilm formation of microorganisms causes persistent tissue and foreign body infections resistant to treatment with antimicrobial agents. Up to 80% of human bacterial infections are biofilm associated; such infections are most frequently caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacteria such as Escherichia coli. The accurate diagnosis of biofilm infections is often difficult, which prevents the appropriate choice of treatment.
Innovative approaches to treat Staphylococcus aureus biofilm-related infections
Many bacterial infections in humans and animals are caused by bacteria residing in biofilms, complex communities of attached organisms embedded in an extracellular matrix. One of the key properties of microorganisms residing in a biofilm is decreased susceptibility towards antimicrobial agents. This decreased susceptibility, together with conventional mechanisms leading to antimicrobial resistance, makes biofilm-related infections increasingly difficult to treat and alternative antibiofilm strategies are urgently required. In this review, we present three such strategies to combat biofilm-related infections with the important human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus: (i) targeting the bacterial communication system with quorum sensing (QS) inhibitors, (ii) a ‘Trojan Horse’ strategy to disturb iron metabolism by using gallium-based therapeutics and (iii) the use of ‘non-antibiotics’ with antibiofilm activity identified through screening of repurposing libraries.
http://essays.biochemistry.org/content/61/1/61
dear Dr.
some bacteria may secrete and reside in an exopolysaccharide glycocalyx polymer.
or
This biofilm provides bacterial cells the ability to survive antimicrobial agents and the host immune system and to disseminate to other sites of the body.
biofilm alone not toxic because biofilm just exopolysaccharide and not as exo or endo toxin
The answer is yes ! Quoted from another page According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 80% of human bacterial infections involve biofilm- associated microorganisms.A bofilm is only a physiological growth form bacteria and fungi use to adapt to their environment. It is because clinicians never knew that some infections were caused by biofilms that made treating them so difficult. Think of things like chronic leg ulcers, dental caries and UTI Far from just a protective coating, biofilms may be the normal state of many bacteria and planktonic bacteria may be more like an adaption to lab culturing conditions (like shaking at 250 rpm, optimal aeration, optimal nutrition and optimal temperatures).
Bacteria that attach to a surface and grow as a bio films are protected from killing by antibiotics. Bio-films are chronic with a low-grade immune response and thus contribute to patient morbidity.
Yes, can cause nosocomial infections. Both device and non -device associated infections
The biofilm bacteria can share nutrients and are sheltered from harmful factors in the environment, such as desiccation, antibiotics, and a host body's immune system. A biofilm usually begins to form when a free-swimming bacterium attaches to a surface. Biofilm is an association of micro-organisms in which microbial cells adhere to each other on a living or non-living surfaces within a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substance. Bacterial biofilm is infectious in nature and can results in nosocomial infections. Biofilms are known to be involved in many chronic infections such as in a chronic wound, lung, ear, heart and nose infections (R). ... In the body, when biofilms form, they form a protective layer by which bacteria evade the immune system and antimicrobials. Bacteria can survive long periods of time in water, animal manure, and soil, causing biofilm formation on plants or in the processing equipment. ... Biofilms have been connected to about 80% of bacterial infections in the United States. In produce, microorganisms attach to the surfaces and biofilms develop internally.
The answer to your question is 'Yes'. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), up to 80% of human bacterial infections involve biofilm associated microorganisms. Common human diseases such as dental caries and periodontitis are caused by biofilm forming bacteria.
Please have a look at these useful RG links and PDF attachments.
Article Bacterial Biofilm: Its Composition, Formation and Role in Hu...
Article Emerging concepts of biofilms in infectious diseases
Article Biofilms in Infections of the Eye
Article Bacterial Biofilms: From the Natural Environment to Infectio...
Article The role of bacterial biofilms in chronic infections
If mean by your question take biofilm of M.O. only (without M.O ) and insert to body can be cause infection ( infection is caused by M.O ). I believe no but can be cause inflammation as it foreign body may be stimulate the immune system and release immune mediators at this site and may cause physiological change and this may result with secondary infection by conversion of normal flora to pathological one
Dear Wesam,
all the answers, from the colleagues, go in the same direction: infections caused by micro-biofilms are more serious than those caused by planktonic microorganisms. I can only support their views.
Yes. Biofilm is an association of micro-organisms in which microbial cells adhere to each other on a living or non-living surfaces within a self-produced matrix of extracellular polymeric substance. Bacterial biofilm is infectious in nature and can results in nosocomial infections.
@ Dr. Wesam Salah Ibrahim
Formation of biofilm is a survival strategy for bacteria and fungi to adapt to their living environment, especially in the hostile environment. Under the protection of biofilm, microbial cells in biofilm become tolerant and resistant to antibiotics and the immune responses, which increases the difficulties for the clinical treatment of biofilm infections. Biofilms cause a variety of persistent infections, such as native valve endocarditis, osteomyelitis, dental caries, middle ear infections, ocular implant infections, urinary tract infections and cystic fibrosis. Please take a look at the following RG links and PDF attachments.
Article Bacterial biofilm and associated infections
Article Microbial Biofilms in Urinary Tract Infections and Prostatit...
Article Bacterial biofilms and healthcare-associated infections
Article The clinical impact of bacterial biofilms
Article A review of bacterial biofilms and their role in device-asso...
Article The Relationship of Opportunistic Gram-Positive Bacterial Bi...
Article Microbial Biofilms: Pathogenicity and Treatment Strategies
Preprint Bacterial Biofilms; Links to Pathogenesis and Résistance Mechanism
Thanks!
Yes. Bio-film is a natural phenomenon of accumulation of various bacteria. But some within this accumulation some helpful bacteria also there, likewise harmful infectious bacteria also there. So, they may causes infections.
Yes, biofilms help bacterial cells to grow and survive and cause infections. So bacteria in biofilm become more resistant to antibiotics and this case increases the difficulties for the clinical treatment of biofilm infections.
You can see the following links:
Article Mechanisms of antibiotic resistance in bacterial biofilm
Article Antibiotic resistance of bacterial biofilms
A biofilm is a structured consortium of bacteria embedded in a self-produced polymer matrix consisting of polysaccharide, protein and DNA. Bacterial biofilms cause chronic infections because they show increased tolerance to antibiotics and disinfectant chemicals as well as resisting phagocytosis and other components of the body's defence system.
Please have a look at the links below:
Article Antibiotic resistance of bacterial biofilms
https://web.stanford.edu/~amatin/MatinLabHomePage/Biofilm.htm
https://aac.asm.org/content/62/8/e00320-18
Definitely yes
Article Biofilm infections, their resilience to therapy and innovativ...
Best Regards Wesam Salah Ibrahim
Oral candidiasis is one of the most well-defined fungal biofilm infections and is characterized by complex biofilms, which interact with bacteria and the host Some studies showed that bacteria can enhance biofilm formation and the pathogenicity of C. albicans .
Article Fungal Biofilms and Polymicrobial Diseases
According to the National Institutes of Health, up to 80% of human bacterial infections involve biofilm- associated microorganisms. Common human diseases such as dental caries and periodontitis are caused by biofilm-forming bacteria
- Badges
- Science topic
- Similar topics
- Chemistry
- Pharmacology
- Pharmaceuticals
- Drugs