Researchers at the University of Toronto have developed a therapy for a potentially deadly type of infection common in catheters, artificial joints and other “in-dwelling” medical devices. Their findings appear in the Open Access Journal PLoS Pathogens on September 8th.
The therapy targets fungal infections, which are hard to treat in such devices because they are composed of biofilms–complex groupings of cells that attach to surfaces. Biofilms, in turn, are coated in a gooey matrix that resists drugs.
Patients often undergo surgical removal of the infected catheter or other device in an attempt to clear the disease and prevent a system-wide dispersal of infecting cells…
Comments are closed.