Is Increased Biofilm Formation Associated with Decreased Antimicrobial Susceptibility? A Systematic Literature Review
Abstract
Biofilm formation is a key factor in microbial survival and persistence, often contributing to reduced antimicrobial susceptibility. This systematic literature review investigates whether increased biofilm formation correlates with decreased antibiotic susceptibility. The literature search was conducted in the Pubmed database and we identified and screened 328 studies, with 35 ultimately meeting the inclusion criteria for detailed analysis. Findings reveal that the relationship between biofilm size and antimicrobial susceptibility is highly variable and influenced by multiple factors, including microbial species, strain-specific traits, antibiotic type, and experimental methodologies. While some studies report a positive correlation between biofilm biomass and reduced susceptibility, others show weak or no such relationships, and statistical support for a correlation is often lacking (also due to small sample sizes). The lack of standardized biofilm quantification methods and susceptibility metrics further complicates cross-study comparisons. These findings underscore the need for standardized protocols and more comprehensive datasets to clarify the complex interplay between biofilm formation and antibiotic susceptibility. Regardless of these difficulties, the available data clearly indicate that 'bigger' biofilms are not by definition less susceptible. Future research should prioritize diverse and sufficiently large strain collections and consistent methodologies to better…
Read the paper
Related studies
- Synthesis, In Vitro and In Silico Molecular Docking Studies of Novel Phthalimide–Pyrimidine Hybrid Analogues to Thalidomide as Potent Antitubercular Agents
- Exploring the inhibitory performance of expired moxifloxacin and norfloxacin on copper corrosion in saline environment
- Molecular investigation of antimicrobial peptides against Helicobacter pylori proteins using a peptide-protein docking approach
- Screening of novel narrow-spectrum benzofuroxan derivatives for the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis through in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches
- Synthesis, Characterization, Anticancer, Antioxidant, and In Silico Evaluation of Semicarbazides and Thiosemicarbazides
- Fast and accurate prediction of drug induced proarrhythmic risk with sex specific cardiac emulators
Go deeper in Evidence Hub
Evidence Hub adds a study data sheet (design, sample size, evidence level, key numbers), an AI summary and a chat grounded in the paper's text.