Pulse Dosing of Antibiotic Enhances Killing of a Biofilm.

Biofilms are highly tolerant to antibiotics and underlie the recalcitrance of many chronic infections. We demonstrate that mature biofilms can be substantially sensitized to the treatment by pulse dosing of an antibiotic - in this case, oxacillin. Pulse (periodic) dosing was compared to continuous application of antibiotic and was studied in a novel flow system which allowed for robust biofilm growth and tractable pharmacokinetics of dosing regimens.