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Updated: May 26, 2026

Use of a High-throughput In Vitro Microfluidic System to Develop Oral Multi-species Biofilms
Published on: December 1, 2014
Introduction to biofilms in family medicine
William Johnjulio1, Ladonna H Fuge, Manjusha Kad
1Department of Family Medicine, West Penn Allegheny Health System, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. bjohnjul@wpahs.org
Abstract:
The management of common infections in family medicine can be complicated by poor treatment response or infection recurrence. Bacteria can grow as free-floating, planktonic bacteria or complex communities called biofilms. Biofilms promote bacterial growth and diversity and offer unique environments, including both aerobic and anaerobic layers, to bacteria. Although most treatments are tested against planktonic bacteria grown in the laboratory, infections in patients usually are the more complex and difficult to treat biofilms. Biofilms offer bacteria enhanced resistance to antimicrobial therapies that may otherwise be effective against planktonic bacteria. In many cases, difficulty treating recurring and recalcitrant infections can be explained by the important role of biofilms.
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