Biofilm Mediated Complications in Hospital and Environmental Setting

Abstract

Biofilms are complex microbial communities that attach firmly to surfaces and grow within a dense extra cellular matrix composed of polysaccharides, proteins, and nucleic acids. Their ability to anchor to medical devices, hospital surfaces, industrial pipelines, and food processing equipment makes them a major concern for both healthcare and industry. In hospital environments, biofilms act as persistent reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms. They reduce the activity of antibiotics, protect harmful bacteria from the host immune system, and play a central role in long-lasting infections linked with catheters, prosthetic implants, ventilator tubes, and surgical instruments. These microbial structures also contaminate critical areas such as operating theatres, sinks, and water outlets, which increases the risk of hospital-acquired infections and elevates patient morbidity and mortality.