Biofilms in Infection and Disease Control: A Healthcare Handbook outlines the scientific evidence and rationale for the prevention of infection, the role biofilms play in infection control, and the issues concerning their resistance to antimicrobials. This book provides practical guidance for healthcare and infection control professionals, as well as students, for preventing and controlling infection.
Biofilms are the most common mode of bacterial growth in nature. Highly resistant to antibiotics and antimicrobials, biofilms are the source of more than 65 percent of health care associated infections (HCAI), which, according to the WHO, affect 1.4 million people annually. Biofilms are involved in 80 percent of all microbial infections in the body, including those associated with medical devices such as catheters, endotracheal tubes, joint prostheses, and heart valves. Biofilms are also the principle causes of infections of the middle-ear, dental caries, gingivitis, prostatitis and cystic fibrosis. Importantly, biofilms also significantly delay wound healing and reduce antimicrobial efficiency in at-risk or infected skin wounds.
Professor Steven L. Percival holds a PhD in medical microbiology and biofilms, a BSc in Applied Biological Sciences, Postgraduate
Certificate in Education, diploma in Business Administration, an MSc in Public Health and an MSc in Medical and Molecular
Microbiology. He is also a fellow of the Institute of Biomedical Science and Institute of Biology. Early in his career, Steven held R&D positions for over 3 years at The British Textile Technology Group Plc, followed then by 6 years as a senior university lecturer in medical microbiology and later the positions of Chief Scientific Officer and Director of R and D at Aseptica, Inc., and senior clinical fellowships at the Centers for Disease Control,
Atlanta, and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust, Leeds, United Kingdom. More recently, Steven held senior R&D manager positions at Bristol Myers Squibb, ConvaTec, Advanced Medical Solutions PLC and also held an honorary Professorship of Microbiology at West Virginia University. In
2011, Steven joined ScapaHealthcare PLC as Vice President of Global Healthcare R&D and was awarded an honorary Professorship at The University of Liverpool, UK. He has written over 260 scientific publications and conference abstracts on water microbiology, biofilms, antimicrobials, and infection control and has authored or edited six textbooks on biofilms and microbiology and provided over 100 presentations on biofilms and public health worldwide.
Dr. Williams currently leads the Oral Microbiology Group based at the School of Dentistry, at Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK. Since Dr. Williams’ first degree (Cardiff University), he has worked in the pharmaceutical industry, food microbiology and as an academic researcher. Having completed a PhD at the School of Dentistry in Cardiff on the immunopathogenesis of oral candidosis, Dr. Williams’ research has continued within Cardiff University and primarily focuses within the field of Clinical Microbiology with an emphasis on studies involving microbial biofilms. Dr. Williams’ research encompasses investigating biofilm susceptibility to antimicrobial agents, expression of virulence factors such as hydrolytic enzyme production, adhesion, and microbial modulation of innate immune responses. Of particular interest has been research into the development of biomaterials (e.g. silicone rubber, acrylic, titanium) to inhibit biofilm formation on medical devices. Dr. Williams is a previous recipient of the Senior Colgate Award (British Society for Oral and Dental Research) and the International Hatton Award (The International Association for Dental Research).
Tracey Cooper works as Assistant Director of Nursing - Infection Prevention for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in Wales. Prior to this she worked as a Director of Infection Prevention and Control in London for four years, having first ‘got the bug’ for infection prevention and control in 1996. She has also previously worked in infection prevention in Devon, on the Isle of Wight, and in Southampton, covering both acute and community issues. Her background includes work in intensive and coronary care, as well as acute hospital ward experience.
Tracey has experience as both an author and peer reviewer and was the Infection Prevention Society (IPS) Editor from 2004-2008. She subsequently served as IPS Vice-President, and then President until 2012. She continues to participate in national and professional society initiatives and projects, and is particularly interested in professional development, change management and patient safety initiatives.
Outside work she enjoys running, loves the outdoors and participates in several Mountain Marathons each year.
Until recently Jacqueline Randle was working as an Associate Professor at the University of Nottingham where she was involved with a range of funded research projects in the area of infection prevention and control. She worked as the Research Lead for Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust and also worked as a national Research Mentor. She was also Visiting Professor in Infection Control at Belo Horizonte University, Brazil and has published widely in the area of infection prevention and healthcare practice. Currently she is working as a freelance Medical Investigator.
