Staphylococcus epidermidis and Biofilm

This document is an in-depth study of the problem of nosocomial infections linked to central venous catheters, caused mainly by the biofilm of Staphylococcus epidermidis. Staphylococcus epidermidis is particularly dangerous because of its ability to form a biofilm, a structured bacterial community encapsulated in a protective matrix. This biofilm gives the bacteria exceptional tolerance to antibiotics and enables them to evade the immune system's defenses, making infections extremely difficult to treat. The book details the complex molecular mechanisms governing the formation of this biofilm, in particular the key role of the ica operon and the polysaccharide. Faced with this major clinical challenge, the text also reviews the various control strategies (impregnated catheters, inhibition of bacterial communication, enzymes) and describes the experimental models, both in vitro and in vivo, used to study this biofilm and test new therapeutic solutions.