Biofilm Eradication and Prevention: A Pharmaceutical Approach to Medical Device Infections

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS.

PART I. DEVELOPMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BIOFILMS.

1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF BIOFILM.

2. RATIONALE FOR BIOFILM ERADICATION FROM MODERN MEDICAL DEVICES.

3. PATHOGENESIS OF DEVICE-RELATED NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS.

4. BIOFILM RESISTANCE–TOLERANCE TO CONVENTIONAL ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS.

5. ANALYTICAL TECHNIQUES USEFUL TO STUDY BIOFILMS.

PART II. BIOFILM-RELATED INFECTIONS IN VARIOUS HUMAN ORGANS (NONDEVICE-RELATED CHRONIC INFECTIONS).

6. BIOFILM-RELATED INFECTIONS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY.

7. BIOFILM-RELATED INFECTIONS IN THE ORAL CAVITY.

8. IMPLICATIONS OF BIOFILM FORMATION IN CHRONIC WOUNDS AND IN CYSTIC FIBROSIS.

PART III. DRUG DELIVERY CARRIERS TO ERADICATE BIOFILM FORMATION ON MEDICAL DEVICES.

9. STRATEGIES FOR PREVENTION OF DEVICE-RELATED NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS.

10. LIPOSOMES AS DRUG DELIVERY CARRIERS TO BIOFILMS.

11. POLYMER-BASED ANTIMICROBIAL DELIVERY CARRIERS.

INDEX.