Bacterial biofilms and human disease

The term biofilm is used to denote a polymer-encased community of microbes which accumulates at a surface. Biofilms are responsible for a number of diseases of man and, because of the intrinsic resistance of these structures to antibiotics and host defence systems, such diseases are very difficult to treat effectively. The application of new microscopic and molecular techniques to biofilms has revolutionised our understanding of their structure, composition, organisation and activities. This review will describe the role that biofilms play in human disease and will outline our new millennial view of these complex and fascinating bacterial communities.