Though effective against Staphylococcus, this strategy may not impede other bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which is responsible for most urinary catheter infections. PEU can release antibiotics for up to a year, says Thomas A. Horbett of the University of Washington in Seattle, one of Bryers' colleagues. The researchers would also like to engineer materials to promote adhesion of the body's own cells, Bryers says. Biomaterials engineered to biologically prevent bacterial infection. Spring meeting of the American Chemical Society.
Electrical fields help kill biofilms.
Potera, C. 1996. Biofilms invade microbiology. Raloff, J. 1996. Gels can give drugs a timely release.