A growing body of research evidence suggests that biofilms play an important role in chronic wounds and are often one of the causes of delayed wound healing. Biopsies from chronic wounds found that 60% of the specimens contain biofilm structures in comparison to only 6% of biopsies from acute wounds (James et al, 2008). Here, the author discusses the clinical relevance of biofilms and offers a practice-based approach to their identification and treatment with a suggested management pathway, utilising case study examples. The aim of care should be to prevent biofilm formation in the first instance, treat if biofilm present, and prevent reconstruction.
