Biofilm producing bacteria: A serious threat to public health in developing countries

Initially pathogens appeared in human communities, and spread to areas where they are not previously found are called enteric pathogens. These pathogens include: bacteria (E. coli, H. pylori, C. jejuni, M. avium complex), protozoa (C. cayetanensis, Cryptosporidium spp., Toxoplasma gonidii), viruses (noroviruses, Hepatitis E viruses) and pathogenic Cyanobacteria [1]. Approximately 99% of micro-organisms on planet earth live in communities known as biofilms [2]. Biofilm forming organisms are quietly broad in nature containing number of known pathogenic fungi and bacteria [3]. Due to biofilm formation pathogenic bacteria are not only capable of causing infection but they are also capable to survive in diverse environmental condition [4]. Microbial biofilms were first observed by Van Leeuwenhoek, on the surface of tooth [3]. Microbial biofilms were also studied by Characklis in water systems of industry and observed that biofilms are anti-susceptible to disinfectants like chlorine [5]. Microorganisms of multiple groups also constitute same biofilm, in which interstitial spaces and water channels are present for the transport of oxygen and nutrients, which help in the development of cells present in biofilm [6]. Recently, evidence shows that biofilms contain virulence factors, which help resident bacteria to attain virulence characters that are not present in single bacteria [7]. A biofilm constitute of many microbial cells associated with surface, present in an Extracellular Polymeric Substance (EPS) matrix. Biofilms are present on different surfaces, like biological tissues, medical equipments, pipes of water systems etc. [3]. Formation of biofilms depends on the type of microorganisms and material [6]. Biofilms have a tendency to trap particles, including various minerals and components of host system such as, RBCs, fibrin and platelets. Biofilm-containing organisms develop slowly as compared to planktonic organisms [8]. Important characteristics of biofilm are; aggregation of biofilm with cells, exchange of resistance plasmids between cells, production of endo-toxins, resistance to antimicrobials and host defense system clearance [9,10]. Kind of substrate, cell surface hydrophobicity which help them in attachment with pilli, flagella, glycocalyx and fimbriae are also an important characteristics of biofilm [3,11]. In developing countries a disturbing feature of biofilm-based infections is higher resistance to antibiotics [12]. However, they also cause industrial pipe fouling, plant infections and nosochomial infections, causing great economic problems in industry and medicines [9,13-15]. There are many improved stratergies for biofilm control but due to collapse of current techniques new procedures are urgently required [16]. Role of biofilm in public health Biofilm are present everywhere in nature and can cause important problems in non-medical areas (For example, biofouling in potable water environment and food handling systems) and medical areas (For example; continual and repeated infections and infections related to medical device) [17,18]. Non-Medical Areas Biofouling of water Water is an important component of life. Adequate and secure water must be accessible to all, which result in many health benefits [19]. Microbial contamination results in many health related problems [20]. Many serious health issues are facing in developing countries related to safe drinking water, like diarrhea and death specially in infants. Primarily in Asian and African countries [21]. According to WHO, death rate due to water born infections exceeds 5 million people per year, in which more than 50% are intestinal infections? Cholera ranks Microorganisms adhere themselves with different surfaces like indwelling medical devices, equipment’s of different industries like water, food and dairy products etc. Microorganisms after attachment produce EPS, which help them in the development of biofilms. Commonly known pathogens including, bacteria, fungi, viruses, protozoa and pathogenic cyanobacteria, are involved in biofilm formation. Biofilms are involved in many persistent and chronic infections in human and animals, increase resistance to antimicrobials, biofouling of water and spoilage or contamination of food and dairy products etc. Biofilms producing bacteria is a serious threat for public health globally but due to poor sanitary conditions and low economic resources chances of infections is high in developing countries. Effective control measures should be developed for the treatment and prevention of biofilm to get rid of serious problems. Abstract Biofilm producing bacteria: A serious threat to public health in developing countries. Umber Tasneem*, Nusrat Yasin, Iqbal Nisa, Faisal Shah, Ubaid Rasheed, Faiza Momin, Sadir Zaman, Muhammad Qasim Department of Microbiology, Kohat University of Science and Technology, 26000, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan Accepted on August 24, 2018 Keywords: Biofilm, EPS, Pathogens, Public health. 26 Citation: Tasneem U, Yasin N, Nisa I, et al. Biofilm producing bacteria: A serious threat to public health in developing countries. J Food Sci Nutr. 2018;1(2):25-31. J Food Sci Nutr 2018 Volume 1 Issue 2 first in people of low economic resources and poor hygienic conditions [19,21,22]. This issue is also sensitive in pregnant women, young children’s and elder persons [23]. Biofouling in industrial and drinking water has harmful effects such as chemical and microbiological destruction in water quality, inducing, yield loss, reduction in efficiency of heat transport and exchange and in membrane techniques [24,25]. Opportunistic pathogens, viruses, parasitic protozoa, toxin releasing algae and fungi and enteric bacteria e.g. E. coli, K. pneumoniae, K. oxytoca, E. cloacae, E. aglomerans, H. pylori, Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., C. perfringens, E. faecium, E. faecalis and environmental pathogenic bacteria like L. pneumophila, P. aeruginosa, P. fluorescens, A. hydrophila, A. caviae, M. avium, M. xenopi etc. are associated with biofilms present in drinking water. These biofilms are complex, containing clay material, corrosion products, filamentous bacteria and fresh water diatoms [3,26]. They may materialize as primary colonizers, which help them in adhesion and biofilm formation [27]. These biofilms cause problems in colour, taste and odor due to release of chemical compounds and more significant they cause a threat to animal and human health [20]. Due to these problems, natural biofilms make contact with drinking water were recognized and described as reservoirs of microorganisms for further infectivity [25,28]. Biofilm formation in food industry Bacteria, including foodborne pathogens grow as biofilms in their normal habitats [29,30], leading to severe hygienic problems and economic loss due to spoilage of food. The growth of microbes on solid surfaces is a universal fact [31], which is an important factor of food-borne infections and biofilm development when not properly sterilized [32]. The ability of bacteria to adhere with surfaces is more implicated in many industries [33] especially pharmaceutical and food [34], in which L. monocytogenes is a common one [35]. Safety of food is an important public health issue that connects human wellbeing to different areas of food manufacturing like farming etc. [36]. Ready-to-eat food People in many countries use ready-to-eat (RTE) and raw food, including products of seafood [36]. Second most common food borne pathogen in RTE was E. cloacae [29,35]. Similarly the most common pathogen in poultry farm is S. enteritidis which cause food poisoning in human worldwide. Biofilm is produced by almost 50% of them [37]. Sea food Foodborne infections due to consumption of seafood are a major cause of the worldwide hospitalizations and morbidity [38,39] because nutritional value of seafood is high, containing proteins, omega-3 fatty acids, micronutrients, minerals and vitamins [40,41]. Seafood includes species of marine mammals, mollusks, finfish, fish eggs and crustaceans [35]. Pathogens forming biofilm are generally resides in certain types of seafood, such as crabs [42], pacific oysters [43] and shrimp [44] etc. Seafood-related infections are caused by numerous viruses, bacteria, and parasites [35], forming biofilms on food contact surfaces, seafood, and in