Biofilms Quiz

See Management. Option D is correct because the most direct way to prevent a biofilm on a device is to stop bacteria reaching it, which means sterile equipment and aseptic technique at insertion. An indwelling device is any device left inside the body, such as a urinary catheter, an intravenous line or a prosthetic joint. A biofilm starts when a few bacteria attach to the surface of the device, so preventing that first contamination prevents the problem. Aseptic technique means steps such as hand hygiene, sterile gloves and a no-touch method, so that bacteria from the skin or the environment do not reach the device. Prevention matters so much because, once a biofilm forms, the bacteria are embedded in a protective matrix, slow their metabolism and divide less, so they are much less susceptible to antibiotics and the immune system. Biofilm infections are mostly iatrogenic, meaning they are caused by medical care, which is why the management of biofilms mainly focuses on prevention. Memory aid: it is far easier to keep bacteria off a device than to remove them once they have built a biofilm.

• Best prevention: sterile equipment and aseptic technique at insertion stop the first bacteria reaching the device.
• Aseptic technique: hand hygiene, sterile gloves and a no-touch method.
• Why prevention matters: an established biofilm is much less susceptible to antibiotics and the immune system.