Chemical modifications are the main strategy for biofilm prevention on indwelling medical devices.

While cystic fibrosis patients are our initial target and a very high-priority target, we also could look at infections associated with burns or indwelling medical devices, such as venous catheters.

Epidemiologic evidence indicates Acinetobacter biofilms play a role in infectious diseases such as periodontitis, bloodstream infections, and urinary tract infections, because of the bacteria's ability to colonize indwelling medical devices (such as catheters).

Although their study focused on S. aureus, the scientists suspect that Pmt performs the same role in other staphylococci, such as S. epidermidis, the leading cause of hospital-associated infections involving indwelling medical devices such as catheters, pacemakers and prosthetics.