Bacteria develop biofilms for protection and persistent colonization. Biofilms of pathogenic bacteria can lead to serious medical problems. Bacterial biofilms on catheters used in the treatment of urinary tract diseases represent a major challenge for antibiotic therapy. Several attempts to eradicate biofilms using classical antibiotics and various alternatives, including antibiotic treatment of surfaces, surfaces that release silver ions, and surfaces with anti-adhesive properties, have not shown clinical efficacy in biofilm prevention or removal. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is one of the most problematic biofilm-forming uropathogens and accounts for approximately 10% of urinary tract infections. Novel glycomimetics that inhibit bacterial lectins have shown promising results in the prevention of P. aeruginosa biofilms and in interference with bacterial virulence. This mini-review summarizes the status of glycomimetic development and provides a perspective on their use in clinical practice. PATIENT SUMMARY: For patients with recurrent urinary tract infections and patients needing long-term catheter use to manage urinary problems, biofilms formed by bacteria can be a problem and are difficult to treat. New compounds that mimic carbohydrates, called glycomimetics, have shown promise in inhibiting these bacteria and the biofilms they form. More research on these compounds is needed before they can be used to treat patients.
European urology focus. 2024 Sep 06 [Epub ahead of print]
Christian Vogel, Katharina Rox, Florian Wagenlehner, Alexander Titz
Department of Urology, Paediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus Liebig Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany., Department of Chemical Biology, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany; German Center for Infection Research, Hannover-Braunschweig Site, Braunschweig, Germany., Department of Urology, Paediatric Urology and Andrology, Justus Liebig Universität Giessen, Giessen, Germany. Electronic address: ., German Center for Infection Research, Hannover-Braunschweig Site, Braunschweig, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland, Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Chemistry, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.