[Bacterial adhesion: its consequences in antibiotherapy]

The aim of the present review is to analyze the influence of antibiotics on bacterial adhesion and to anticipate this approach as an alternative possibility of prophylactic or therapeutic interference with the infectious process. Adhesive interactions between bacteria and substratum including solid and cellular surfaces were briefly documented. Bacteria displays a very large variety of adhesins and this implies complex mechanisms in the adhesion process. Anti-adhesive therapy must take into account several factors: particularly interference with the colonization of mucosal surfaces by normal flora and phagocytic defense system in which adhesion plays a very important role as well.