Microbial Biofilms: Role in Human Infectious Diseases

Microbial biofilms are serious problem in medical settings as they are associated with significant mortality and morbidity. Infection related to biofilms not only increases recovery time, but also escalates the cost of disease management. Biofilms are intrinsically resistant to antibiotics and evade human defense mechanisms. In addition, the close proximity of microbes within biofilms promotes genetic transformation, facilitating the acquisition of antibiotic-resistant genes and leading to an increased prevalence of diseases associated with resistance. Fortunately, with advances in science and technology, novel strategies are being utilized to mitigate the impact of biofilms on human health. Microbial Biofilms: Role in Human Infectious Diseases focuses on new and emerging concepts in microbial biofilm research. It explores topics such as the mechanisms of biofilm formation, biofilm-induced pathogenesis, biofilm detection and diagnosis, gene exchange within biofilms, strategies to control microbial biofilms, and the burden of biofilm-associated infections. Additionally, the book highlights the various antibiofilm strategies, such as surface coating, signal quenching, novel compounds that can be translated to curb biofilm-associated infections, and the escalation of antimicrobial resistance determinants.