Biofilms in Infection and Disease Control: A Healthcare Handbook outlines the scientific
evidence and rationale for the prevention of infection the role biofilms play in infection
control and the issues concerning their resistance to antimicrobials. This book provides
practical guidance for healthcare and infection control professionals as well as students for
preventing and controlling infection. Biofilms are the most common mode of bacterial growth in
nature. Highly resistant to antibiotics and antimicrobials biofilms are the source of more
than 65 percent of health care associated infections (HCAI) which according to the WHO
affect 1.4 million people annually. Biofilms are involved in 80 percent of all microbial
infections in the body including those associated with medical devices such as catheters
endotracheal tubes joint prostheses and heart valves. Biofilms are also the principle causes
of infections of the middle-ear dental caries gingivitis prostatitis and cystic fibrosis.
Importantly biofilms also significantly delay wound healing and reduce antimicrobial
efficiency in at-risk or infected skin wounds.
