Control of Bacterial Biofilms for Mitigating Antimicrobial Resistance

Abstract

Antimicrobial resistance is a significant global issue across countries irrespective of the level of income and imposes a significant health and financial burden. Naturally, microorganisms become resistant when exposed to antimicrobial drugs, and overuse of antibiotics is a primary driver contributing to their increased prevalence. But when bacteria are attached to a surface and expand as a biofilm, they become more resistant to antimicrobials as they are embedded in a slimy extracellular polymeric substance as a single or multiple bacterial species. Thus, bacteria within a biofilm are protected from killing by antibiotics, biocides, and other chemical or physical challenges. Biofilms often contaminate the medical devices and food industrial equipment leading to associated infections and food spoilage, respectively. Therefore, warranting a need for novel agents and effective approach against drug resistant biofilms.

Here we present innovative strategies to control and eradicate bacterial biofilms unlike the conventional antibiotic therapies. The review introduces the basics of biofilm development from a planktonic bacterium, the role of bacterial motility, structural components, and exopolysaccharides. Furthermore, signaling in biofilm , its association with antimicrobial resistance and how inhibition of biofilm signaling, using quorum sensing inhibitors molecules such as phytocompounds, signaling molecule analogues and RNA III - inhibiting peptide, can be exploited are discussed. Present review also deliberated the role of ultrasound and acidic electrolyzed water to disrupt biofilms from medical devices and food industry equipment. Besides we also reviewed the enzymatic and combination killing approaches used to remove biofilms. In the end, some emerging approaches like bacteriophage mediated disruption of biofilms and the role of nanomedicine to control bacterial biofilms are discussed.