Persister Cells and the Paradox of Chronic Infections: Dormant persister cells are tolerant to antibiotics and are largely responsible for recalcitrance of chronic infections

Chronic infections are often caused by pathogens that are susceptible to antibiotics, but the disease may be difficult or even impossible to eradicate with antimicrobial therapy. This paradox has been known for a very long time, and a solution appears to be in sight.