The Electricidal Effect, a Novel Anti-Biofilm Strategy

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Biofilm bacteria are estimated to cause two thirds of infections in modern clinical practice. In biofilms, microorganisms are protected from killing by innate host defenses and most available antimicrobial agents, culminating in the need for device removal in many device-associated infections (e.g., prosthetic joint infection). Given the failure of antimicrobics in the management of biofilm-associated device infections, a novel and innovative therapeutic and preventive non-antimicrobial approach is needed. Such a strategy would limit emergence of conventional antimicrobial resistance, as conventional antimicrobial agents would not be needed. Such a strategy would also limit toxicity associated with systemic antimicrobial agents. The preliminary in vitro studies described in our first submission demonstrated that electrical currents of 20 to 2000