Breakpoints #110 – A Bone to Pick: Biofilm Busters for Prosthetic Joint Infections
Jan 24, 2025
Nico Cortes-Penfield, an expert in infectious diseases, Jessica Seidelman, a hospital epidemiologist, and Kerry LaPlante, a pioneering pharmacist, delve into the complexities of biofilms in prosthetic joint infections. They discuss the challenges in eradicating biofilms with antibiotics and explore innovative non-pharmacologic strategies like bacteriophages and electromagnetism. Their insights shed light on the need for tailored treatment approaches and the ongoing evolution of testing methods to combat these persistent infections effectively.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Biofilm Structure and Role
- A biofilm is a protective community of bacteria surrounded by extracellular polymeric substances.
- This structure helps bacteria adhere strongly and resist immune attacks and antibiotics in prosthetic joint infections.
Why Biofilms Resist Treatment
- Biofilms reduce immune system effectiveness and hinder antibiotic penetration.
- Bacteria in biofilms grow slower, making many antibiotics less effective and sometimes promoting more biofilm.
Biofilm Stages Affect Antibiotic Efficacy
- Biofilm development follows stages: initial attachment, accumulation, maturation, full maturity.
- Antibiotics lose effectiveness as biofilm matures, with daptomycin showing best activity against mature biofilms.