ABSTRACT
Biofilm genesis .................................................................................................. 11 Perioperative implications .............................................................................. 14
Vascular catheterization ............................................................................. 15 Orthopedics .................................................................................................. 16 Endotracheal tubes ...................................................................................... 16
Are topical antimicrobials effective? ............................................................. 16 Materials and methods .................................................................................... 16 Results ................................................................................................................ 17 Recommendations ............................................................................................ 18 Acknowledgments ........................................................................................... 19 References .......................................................................................................... 20
Until recently, perioperative professionals were taught that microbial infections (e.g., bacterial, viral, fungal) were caused by free-moving, individual microorganisms or small isolated groups of microorganisms. Microorganisms causing infections entered the body via a wound or by direct invasion, spread through the body, multiplied in the body, evaded immunological defenses (i.e., T lymphocyte, B lymphocyte, and phagocytic activity), and were shed from the body to infect new hosts [1].
