Biofilms: A clinical perspective

Biofilms play an increasingly recognized role in many aspects of human disease. Most of our understanding of infections is based on research that has examined free-living organisms. The results do not necessarily apply to biofilm organisms, since metabolic and synthetic characteristics of free-living organisms can change when they assume the biofilm mode of growth. Biofilms reduce our ability to eradicate infections, causing relapses after seemingly appropriate therapy. Awareness of biofilms, prevention of contamination of implanted or invasive devices, and use of appropriate antimicrobial dosing and treatment durations can limit the negative impact of biofilms while we strive for new technological solutions.