Recent Strategies to Combat Biofilms Using Antimicrobial Agents and Therapeutic Approaches

Abstract

Biofilms are intricate bacterial assemblages that attach to diverse surfaces using an extracellular polymeric substance that protects them from the host immune system and conventional antibiotics. Biofilms cause chronic infections that result in millions of deaths around the world every year. Since the antibiotic tolerance mechanism in biofilm is different than that of the planktonic cells due to its multicellular structure, the currently available antibiotics are inadequate to treat biofilm-associated infections which have led to an immense need to find newer treatment options. Over the years, various novel antibiofilm compounds able to fight biofilms have been discovered. In this review, we have focused on the recent and intensively researched therapeutic techniques and antibiofilm agents used for biofilm treatment and grouped them according to their type and mode of action. We also discuss some therapeutic approaches that have the potential for future advancement.

Treatment of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infectious biofilms: Challenges and strategies

“…Clinically, the long-term colonization of bacteria in humans causes chronic infections, mainly because the bacteria in biofilms are resistant to host immune responses and antibiotic therapy (Dufour et al, 2010). Research has shown that 65-80% of pathogenic infections in hospitals are associated with biofilms (Kumar et al, 2017;Shrestha et al, 2022). Although numerous antimicrobial agents are available for clinical use, these agents only inhibit infection symptoms and are unable to eradicate bacteria embedded in biofilms .…”

Bioengineering Approaches to Fight against Orthopedic Biomaterials Related-Infections

“…Implanted materials are highly susceptible to bacterial and fungal colonization and consequent infection [ 20 ]. These microorganisms are frequently opportunistic, taking advantage of the weakening of the body defenses at the implant surface–tissue interface, thereby attaching to tissues or implant surfaces, instigating biofilm formation and subsequent development of infection [ 13 , 21 ]. The development of biofilm causes tissue destruction, systemic dissemination of the pathogen and dysfunction of the implant/bone interface, resulting in the failure of implanted material [ 13 , 21 ].…”

“…These microorganisms are frequently opportunistic, taking advantage of the weakening of the body defenses at the implant surface–tissue interface, thereby attaching to tissues or implant surfaces, instigating biofilm formation and subsequent development of infection [ 13 , 21 ]. The development of biofilm causes tissue destruction, systemic dissemination of the pathogen and dysfunction of the implant/bone interface, resulting in the failure of implanted material [ 13 , 21 ]. Additionally, the contaminated implant may serve as a reservoir for an infection of the surrounding tissue, where microorganisms may reside intracellularly [ 13 , 21 ].…”

“…The development of biofilm causes tissue destruction, systemic dissemination of the pathogen and dysfunction of the implant/bone interface, resulting in the failure of implanted material [ 13 , 21 ]. Additionally, the contaminated implant may serve as a reservoir for an infection of the surrounding tissue, where microorganisms may reside intracellularly [ 13 , 21 ].…”

“…Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), Methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis (MRSE), Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBLs) are examples of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that have been commonly linked to implant-related infections, which are a huge threat to human health since they limit therapeutic options to adopt [ 33 , 34 , 35 ]. In addition, these bacteria are producers of virulence factors (e.g., catalase, hyaluronidase, collagenase, toxins) that play an important role in the degree of severity of the infection, once they promote bacterial adherence to the bone and implant and severe tissue damage [ 13 , 21 ].…”