A step to understand how to tackle biofilms of bacteria on cardiac implants

Biofilms of bacteria can form on medical cardiac implants, leading to bacterial infection of the heart. Researchers from the University of York, led by Professor Jennifer Potts, found that protein chains, similar to those found on the surface of Staphylococcus epidermidis, a common bacteria which forms on cardiac implants, connect bacteria to each other and other bacterial products. Dr. Hélène Wilson, Research Advisor at the British Heart Foundation, which co-funded the study, said that the presence of clusters of bacteria on cardiac implant devices are dangerous because they are often resistant to antibiotics. Both Potts and Wilson said that their discovery increases the understanding of how biofilms are structured and, thus, could help lead to new ways to prevent infection and reduce the need to remove the affected cardiac implant device through a difficult and invasive process.