Experimental approach of an emerging medical concern: Study of antibiotic resistance in biofilms formed by pathogenic bacteria in long-term intravenous catheters

Nosocomial infections, hospital-acquired infections, claim 7,000 deaths in France every year. To find a solution that may help saving the lives of thousands of people, David Lebeaux studies biofilms, i. e. agglomerates of bacteria that form onto surfaces and cause 65% of all nosocomial diseases. They are particularly dangerous as they show a high level of resistance to antimicrobial treatments. Lebeaux suspects that targeting the more resistant bacteria inside a biofilm may be a way to cure these infections. Until now, little is known about their genetic mechanisms and the way they resist. This understanding may help designing strategies to cure biofilm-related infections.