Browsing by Author "Post, C."

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The application of biofilm science to the study and control of bacterial infections
(2003-11) Costerton, J. William; Veeh, Richard Harold; Shirtliff, Mark E.; Pasmore, M.; Post, C.; Ehrlich, Garth D.
Unequivocal direct observations have established that the bacteria that cause device-related and other chronic infections grow in matrix-enclosed biofilms. The diagnostic and therapeutic strategies that have served us so well in the partial eradication of acute epidemic bacterial diseases have not yielded accurate data or favorable outcomes when applied to these biofilm diseases. We discuss the potential benefits of the application of the new methods and concepts developed by biofilm science and engineering to the clinical management of infectious diseases.
Biofilm-related infections of cerebrospinal fluid shunts
(2006-04) Fux, C. A.; Quigley, Mark; Worel, A. M.; Post, C.; Zimmerli, S.; Ehrlich, Garth D.; Veeh, Richard Harold
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunts carry a high risk of complications. Infections represent a major cause of shunt failure. Diagnosis and therapy of such infections are complicated by the formation of bacterial biofilms attached to shunt surfaces. This study correlated the pathophysiology and clinical course of biofilm infections with microscopic findings on the respective shunts. Surface irregularities, an important risk factor for shunt colonisation with bacteria, were found to increase over time because of silicone degradation. Scanning electron-microscopy (SEM) documented residual biological material (dead biofilm), which can further promote extant bacterial adhesion, on newly manufactured shunts. Clinical course, and SEM both documented bacterial dissemination against CSF flow and the monodirectional valve. In all cases, biofilms grew on both the inner and outer surfaces of the shunts. Microscopy and conventional culture detected all bacterial shunt infections. Analyses of 16S rDNA sequences using conserved primers identified bacteria in only one of three cases, probably because of previous formalin fixation of the samples.