Does Staphylococcus Aureus Nasal Colonization Involve Biofilm Formation?

Abstract

The human anterior nares are used by Staphylococcus aureus as the major colonization site in 20–30% of the human population. Eradication of S. aureus carriage can significantly reduce the numbers of nosocomial infections. However, the interactions governing the colonization process have remained elusive and it has been debated whether S. aureus adopts a biofilm-like state in the nose. We summarize recent studies on staphylococcal living conditions during nasal colonization, which favour a dispersed rather than a biofilm-related mode of growth during S. aureus nasal colonization. This notion is of major importance for future directions in the development of new decolonization strategies.

Keywords:

• biofilm
• nasal colonization
• Staphylococcus aureus

Acknowledgements

We thank our team members and collaborators for helpful discussions.

Financial & competing interests disclosure

Our work is supported by grants from the German Research Foundation (SFB766, TRR34) and the German Ministry of Education and Research (SkinStaph, MENAGE) to A Peschel. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

Our work is supported by grants from the German Research Foundation (SFB766, TRR34) and the German Ministry of Education and Research (SkinStaph, MENAGE) to A Peschel. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.