Bacterial biofilms: formation, advantages for community members, clinical implications, and antibiotic resistance

Abstract

Microbial biofilms offer several advantages to cells forming the biofilm community, such metabolic cooperation, genetic diversity, protection against environmental hostilities and a high resistance and tolerance potential. In addition, biofilm-forming bacteria present the most important cause of infection in human. Biofilm-assciociated infections are characterized by the development of biofilm in human tissues or medical devices, which makes these infections more difficult to cure and helps bacteria to acquire new pathogenesic features such as antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance is considered as the most important threat for global health, which affects the treatment outcomes, costs, disease extention, and illness duration. In this review, we discuss an overview of biofilm formation, and advantages ensured to microbial cells. Furthermore, clinical implications of biofilms and antibiotic resistance profiles acquired are also highlighted.