Improving antibiotic treatment of bacterial biofilm by hyperbaric oxygen therapy: Not just hot air
P.Ø. Jensen,
S.A. Møller,
C.J. Lerche,
C. Moser,
T. Bjarnsholt,
O. Ciofu,
D. Faurholt-Jepsen,
N. Høiby,
M. Kolpen
Affiliations
P.Ø. Jensen
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark; Costerton Biofilm Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark; Corresponding author. Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
S.A. Møller
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
C.J. Lerche
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
C. Moser
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
T. Bjarnsholt
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark; Costerton Biofilm Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
O. Ciofu
Costerton Biofilm Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
D. Faurholt-Jepsen
Copenhagen Cystic Fibrosis Center, Department of Infectious Diseases, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, DK2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
N. Høiby
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark; Costerton Biofilm Center, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Copenhagen, 2200, Copenhagen, Denmark
M. Kolpen
Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark; Corresponding author.
Bacteria and fungi show substantial increased recalcitrance when growing as infectious biofilms. Chronic infections caused by biofilm growing microorganisms is considered a major problem of modern medicine. New strategies are needed to improve antibiotic treatment of biofilms. We have improved antibiotic treatment of bacterial biofilms by reviving the dormant bacteria and thereby make them susceptible to antibiotics by means of reoxygenation. Here we review the rationale for associating lack of oxygen with low susceptibility in infectious biofilm, and how hyperbaric oxygen therapy may result in reoxygenation leading to enhanced bactericidal activity of antibiotics. We address issues of feasibility and potential adverse effects regarding patient safety and development of resistance. Finally, we propose means for supplying reoxygenation to antibiotic treatment of infectious biofilm with the potential to benefit large groups of patients.
