Characteristics of bacterial biofilm associated with implant material in clinical practice

Colonization of bacteria around native host cells or polymeric implant surfaces results in a dense growth on the surface, which leads to infection. The change of a bacterium from a motile planktonic to a nonmotile long chain of growing cells is a complex, regulated process that depends on several factors. The probability of a biofilm-related infection occurrence is between 65 and 80%. This review critically evaluates the mode of biofilm formation on native tissues and orthopedics, dental, cardiac, and urological implants and vascular grafts. The combination of biochemical advancements with conventional microbiological techniques and the use of radio-labeled monoclonal antibodies in imaging techniques, with recent developments in the detection of these biofilm in vivo, would help in designing biomaterials that prevent bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, and dislodge the formed biofilm, thereby accelerating the product development phase. © 2013 The Society of Polymer Science, Japan (SPSJ) All rights reserved.