METHODS FOR QUANTIFYING AND CHARACTERIZING BACTERIAL BIOFILMS.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria, especially related to the capacity to adhere to different abiotic and biotic surfaces, such as wounds, skin or other living surfaces, raised several questions regarding the processes underlying this phenomenon. Bacteria within a biofilm (also referred to as the sessile variant of bacteria) proved to be more resistant to common antimicrobials, therefore current methods to control bacterial growth do not have the same effect on a biofilm as on planktonic bacteria. On one hand quantifying and characterizing bacterial biofilms became necessary for practical purposes, as recommended for example in routine checking of the antimicrobial susceptibility of Pseudomonas spp. clinical isolates that developed biofilms. On the other hand, researchers engaged in finding novel substances which could have an antimicrobial effect on biofilms in different stages of development and needed the most suitable methods to study the formation and dynamic ofbiofilms. Taking into consideration the above mentioned aspects, we aimed at reviewing the state of the art regarding the development of qualitative and quantitative methods for biofilm characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]