4 February 2024 | Giuseppe Mancuso, Marilena Trinchera, Angelina Midiri, Sebastiana Zummo, Giulia Vitale and Carmelo Biondo
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are prevalent bacterial infections that account for approximately 40% of all bacterial infections and require around 15% of all antibiotic prescriptions. The significant increase in antibiotic resistance in recent years has made many previously effective treatments ineffective. Biofilms on medical equipment in healthcare settings create a reservoir of pathogens that can easily be transmitted to patients. Urinary catheter infections are frequently observed in hospitals and are caused by microbes that form a biofilm after a catheter is inserted into the bladder. Managing infections caused by biofilms is challenging due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Biofilms enable pathogens to evade the host's innate immune defenses, resulting in long-term persistence. The incidence of sepsis caused by UTIs that have spread to the bloodstream is increasing, and drug-resistant infections may be even more prevalent. While the availability of upcoming tests to identify the bacterial cause of infection and its resistance spectrum is critical, it alone will not solve the problem; innovative treatment approaches are also needed. This review analyses the main characteristics of biofilm formation and drug resistance in recurrent uropathogen-induced UTIs. The importance of innovative and alternative therapies for combating biofilm-caused UTI is emphasized.Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are prevalent bacterial infections that account for approximately 40% of all bacterial infections and require around 15% of all antibiotic prescriptions. The significant increase in antibiotic resistance in recent years has made many previously effective treatments ineffective. Biofilms on medical equipment in healthcare settings create a reservoir of pathogens that can easily be transmitted to patients. Urinary catheter infections are frequently observed in hospitals and are caused by microbes that form a biofilm after a catheter is inserted into the bladder. Managing infections caused by biofilms is challenging due to the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Biofilms enable pathogens to evade the host's innate immune defenses, resulting in long-term persistence. The incidence of sepsis caused by UTIs that have spread to the bloodstream is increasing, and drug-resistant infections may be even more prevalent. While the availability of upcoming tests to identify the bacterial cause of infection and its resistance spectrum is critical, it alone will not solve the problem; innovative treatment approaches are also needed. This review analyses the main characteristics of biofilm formation and drug resistance in recurrent uropathogen-induced UTIs. The importance of innovative and alternative therapies for combating biofilm-caused UTI is emphasized.