Korean J Asthma Allergy Clin Immunol.  2011 Mar;31(1):9-16.

Role of Biofilms in Chronic Rhinosinusitis

Abstract

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is a disease commonly encountered in the rhinology clinic. Patients with CRS lead lower quality of life and pay for significant costs for treatment. However, some patients with CRS have persistent and recurrent infections despite aggressive medical and surgical managements. It is believed that 99% of all bacteria are present in biofilms, and only 1% of all bacteria live in a free-floating or planktonic state at any given time. A bacterial biofilm differs from its planktonic counterpart with respect to the genes that are transcribed. It is defined as an assemblage of microbial cells enclosed in a self-produced polymeric matrix that is irreversibly associated with an inert or living surface. The requirements for oxygen and nutrients are reduced in this state, and waste products are handled by water channels. The life cycle of biofilms can be divided into 5 steps: attachment, adhesion, aggregation, growth and detachment. Biofilms provide bacteria with distinct advantages including antimicrobial resistance and protection by host defense. Biofilms have been shown to be involved in many chronic infectious diseases. In CRS, there has been growing evidence to support the crucial role of biofilms in recalcitrance and disease progression.

MeSH Terms

Aquaporins
Bacteria
Biofilms
Communicable Diseases
Disease Progression
Humans
Life Cycle Stages
Oxygen
Plankton
Polymers
Quality of Life
Waste Products
Aquaporins
Oxygen
Polymers
Waste Products