Biofilms-What Should the Orthopedic Surgeon know?

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Infectious Diseases
• Microbiology

Background:

• Musculoskeletal infections pose significant challenges in orthopedic and trauma care, leading to prolonged treatment and poor functional outcomes.
• Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) exacerbates treatment difficulties, limiting effective antibiotic options for resistant pathogens.
• Bacterial biofilm formation on orthopedic implants is a primary driver of antibiotic therapy failure in these infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the characteristics, development, and disease mechanisms of biofilms in musculoskeletal infections.
• To outline key strategies for managing biofilms and explore future treatment approaches for biofilm-related infections.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on biofilm types, structure, formation, and pathogenesis in musculoskeletal infections.
• Discussion of current biofilm management concepts and emerging therapeutic perspectives.

Main Results:

• Biofilms are resilient bacterial communities encased in an extracellular matrix, providing inherent resistance to antimicrobial agents.
• Both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as fungi, can form biofilms, complicating treatment across various pathogens.
• Effective biofilm eradication often requires aggressive interventions, combining surgical and medical approaches.

Conclusions:

• Orthopedic surgeons must understand the fundamental principles of biofilm formation and its clinical implications.
• Awareness of biofilm-related challenges is essential for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient care in orthopedic surgery.