Medical biofilms : detection, prevention, and control

Biofilms are formed by microorganisms growing on surfaces and comprise a series of microcolonies interspersed with spaces through which fluids and other microorganisms move. In medicine, the primary problems are biofilms associated with implants: infections are increasingly difficult to treat with traditional antibiotics and removal of the implant often becomes essential, frequently leading to higher morbidity and mortality. This will be the first book dedicated to medical biofilms. It will cover much recent information on the problems of biofilms, how to detect them and how to control their presence.