MEDICINSKI GLASNIK

Significance of microbial biofilm occurence in the pathogenesis
and treatment of chronic infections
Jasmina Vraneš 1, 2 , Vladimira Leskovar 2
1 Zagreb University Medical School, 2 Institute of Public Health ‘’Dr. Andrija Štampar“, Zagreb; Zagreb, Croatia
ABSTRACT
The ability of bacterial cells to adhere to biotic and abiotic surfaces, to function as a group and to mutually
communicate is crucial in the development of chronic infectious diseases. Sessile communities
of microorganisms today known as biofilm are involved in a number of chronic bacterial infections.
Key characteristics of biofilm-infections are the persistence of infection and resistance to antimicrobial
agents and host defenses. Advances in the technology and the application of new microscopic and molecular
methods while studing ultrastructure and functional relationships inside the biofilm give hope
that a new therapeutic way to control biofilm-infections, one of the greatest challenges of 21 st century,
will be found.
Key words: biofilm, chronic infections, pathogenesis, therapy
Original submission:
06 April 2009;
Revised submission:
08 April 2009;
Accepted:
03 May 2009.
Vraneš et al Biofilm i kronične infekcije
165