Efficacy of Radiations against Bacterial Biofilms

Abstract

A biofilm has been defined as a community of bacteria living in organized structures at a liquid interface. Biofilms can colonize a wide range of domains, including essentially industrial sectors, different natural environments, and also biomedical environments. Bacteria in biofilms are generally well protected against environmental stresses and, as a consequence, are extremely difficult to eradicate. The current study was to investigate the efficacy of different radiations against bacterial biofilms on different surfaces. It was established that the majority of available treatments have proven less effective against pathogenic biofilms, compared to planktonic bacteria. Therefore, new biofilm treatment strategies are needed, including physical treatments such as radiations. UV LEDs offer new solutions to prevent biofilm formation on inaccessible surfaces, such as medical and food equipment and, potentially, sanitary facilities, to limit nosocomial infections, compared to continuous UV irradiation treatment. Moreover, the antimicrobial effectiveness of gamma irradiation is therefore guaranteed in the treatment of bacteria associated with a biofilm, compared to planktonic bacteria. However, limited studies have been conducted to evaluate the inactivation effect of low-energy X-rays on more resistant biofilm pathogens on food-contact surfaces.