How biofilm changes our understanding of cleaning and disinfection

Maillard, Jean-Yves ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8617-9288 and Centeleghe, Isabella 2023. How biofilm changes our understanding of cleaning and disinfection. Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control 12 (1) , 95. 10.1186/s13756-023-01290-4

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Abstract

Biofilms are ubiquitous in healthcare settings. By nature, biofilms are less susceptible to antimicrobials and are associated with healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Resistance of biofilm to antimicrobials is multifactorial with the presence of a matrix composed of extracellular polymeric substances and eDNA, being a major contributing factor. The usual multispecies composition of environmental biofilms can also impact on antimicrobial efficacy. In healthcare settings, two main types of biofilms are present: hydrated biofilms, for example, in drains and parts of some medical devices and equipment, and environmental dry biofilms (DSB) on surfaces and possibly in medical devices. Biofilms act as a reservoir for pathogens including multi-drug resistant organisms and their elimination requires different approaches. The control of hydrated (drain) biofilms should be informed by a reduction or elimination of microbial bioburden together with measuring biofilm regrowth time. The control of DSB should be measured by a combination of a reduction or elimination in microbial bioburden on surfaces together with a decrease in bacterial transfer post-intervention. Failure to control biofilms increases the risk for HAI, but biofilms are not solely responsible for disinfection failure or shortcoming. The limited number of standardised biofilm efficacy tests is a hindrance for end users and manufacturers, whilst in Europe there are no approved standard protocols. Education of stakeholders about biofilms and ad hoc efficacy tests, often academic in nature, is thus paramount, to achieve a better control of biofilms in healthcare settings.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Published Online
Status:	Published
Schools:	Pharmacy
Additional Information:	License information from Publisher: LICENSE 1: URL: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/, Type: open-access
Publisher:	BioMed Central
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	8 September 2023
Date of Acceptance:	15 August 2023
Last Modified:	08 Sep 2023 18:27
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/162332

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