Bacterial biofilm infections, their resistance to antibiotics therapy and current treatment strategies

Abstract

Nearly 80% of human chronic infections are caused due to bacterial biofilm formation. This is the most leading cause for failure of medical implants resulting in high morbidity and mortality. In addition, biofilms are also known to cause serious problems in food industry. Biofilm impart enhanced antibiotic resistance and become recalcitrant to host immune responses leading to persistent and recurrent infections. It makes the clinical treatment for biofilm infections very difficult. Reduced penetration of antibiotic molecules through EPS, mutation of the target site, accumulation of antibiotic degrading enzymes, enhanced expression of efflux pump genes are the probable causes for antibiotics resistance. Accordingly, strategies like administration of topical antibiotics and combined therapy of antibiotics with antimicrobial peptides are considered for alternate options to overcome the antibiotics resistance. A number of other remediation strategies for both biofilm inhibition and dispersion of established biofilm have been developed. The metallic nanoparticles and their oxides have recently gained a tremendous thrust as antibiofilm therapy for their unique features. This present comprehensive review gives the understanding of antibiotic resistance mechanisms of biofilm and provides an overview of various currently available biofilm remediation strategies, focusing primarily on the applications of metallic nanoparticles and their oxides.

Targeting the Achilles’ Heel of Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus by the Endocannabinoid Anandamide

“…Many efforts have been invested to find the Achilles’ heel that can be targeted to overcome antibiotic resistance, especially in methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and multidrug-resistant S. aureus (MDRSA) [ 6 , 11 , 28 , 29 , 30 ]. β-lactamase inhibitors such as clavulanic acid, sulbactam, and avibactam, increase the half-life of β-lactam antibiotics, thereby increasing their efficacy [ 31 ].…”

Ag NCs as a potent antibiofilm agent against pathogenic Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii and drug-resistant Bacillus subtilis by affecting chemotaxis and flagellar assembly pathway genes

“…The matrix of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and enhanced expression of efflux pumps help in shielding the bacteria from antibiotic treatment. 5,6 Furthermore, the inherent acidic microenvironment ( pH: 4.5-6.5) of biofilms weakens the activity of antibiotics. 7 Accordingly, the pathogenicity of bacteria often gets significantly enhanced when grown in a biofilm.…”

Chemical Composition of Essential Oils of Bulbs and Aerial Parts of Two Cultivars of Allium sativum and Their Antibiofilm Activity against Food and Nosocomial Pathogens

“…The higher bacterial resistance to the conventional drugs allowed them to more easily form biofilms, causing a severe problem for food and health [ 21 ]. Around 80% of human chronic infections are due to bacterial biofilm formation [ 22 ]. Biofilm is the leading source of failure for medical implants, which, infected by bacteria capable of attaching themselves to their surfaces through biofilms, gives rise to higher mortality.…”