Table 4.

Steps of biofilm formation in catheters.⁴⁸

Reversible attachment of platonic bacteria to the catheter surface Host proteins adhere to the catheter surface to make a “conditioning layer” Irreversible attachment of bacteria to host proteins Bacteria produce mucopolysaccharide coating to establish a biofilm The biofilm then protects bacteria from host defenses and antibiotics, Bacterial shedding (detachment) to create an expanding biofilm