ENZYME DISRUPTION OF BACTERIAL BIOFILMS

摘要

Methods for treating patients in which damaged tissue or an indwelling prosthetic device or catheter has a bacterial biofilm growing thereon, to at least partially disrupt said biofilm, by administering at least one antibacterial enzyme that is lethal or damaging to the biofilm-forming bacteria in an amount that is effective to at least partially disrupt the biofilm upon contact therewith. Methods for prophylactically treating a patient, and methods for disinfecting or sterilizing a surface ex-vivo to remove a biofilm or prevent biofilm growth are also disclosed, as well as implantable articles susceptible to biofilm growth to which a prophylactic coating of an antibacterial enzyme has been applied.