Inactivation of Efflux Pumps Abolishes Bacterial Bioflim Formation.

Bacterial bioflims cause numerous problems in health care and industry; notably, biofllms are associated with a large number of infections. Biofilm-dwelling bacteria are particularly resistant to antibiotics, making it hard to eradicate biofilm-associated infections. Bacteria rely on efflux pumps to get rid of toxic substances. We discovered that efflux pumps are highly active in bacterial bioflims, thus making efflux pumps attractive targets for antibiofllm measures. A number of efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) are known. EPIs were shown to reduce biofllm formation, and in combination they could abolish biofllm formation completely. Also, EPIs were able to block the antibiotic tolerance of biofllms. The results of this feasibility study might pave the way for new treatments for biofllm-related infections and may be exploited for prevention of biofllms in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]