Biofilms in peritoneal dialysis.

Microbial adhesions and biofilm bacterial growth have been implicated in serious infections associated with the use of bioprosthetic medical devices and indwelling catheters in humans. Biofilm bacterial growth also commonly occurs on peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheters from skin bacteria. Mature biofilms develop high antibiotic resistance and cause recurrent peritonitis and catheter loss in a subgroup of PD patients. That subgroup of patients can be identified by comparing the antibiotic sensitivities [minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs)] of a biofilm culture and a routine microbiologic (planktonic) culture of the same PD effluent.