Biosurfactants as Antibiofilm Agents for Medical Devices: Mechanisms, Evidence and Integration into Infection Prevention and Control

spp., and it was generally noted that BSs reduced microbial adhesion and delayed early biofilm formation on medical devices and healthcare-related surfaces. Significant evidence also suggests that they partially disrupt biofilms and improve antimicrobial penetration when co-applied, mainly through membrane disruption, destabilization of extracellular substances, interfering with quorum sensing, and synergistic and/or antagonistic interactions with other molecules. Their performance varied with class, formulation, hydrodynamic conditions, and microbial composition. BSs function better as preventive and adjunctive IPC tools than stand-alone antimicrobial agents and can help to reduce biofilm formation on devices and improve surface disinfection. However, translating this promise into practice demands more robust data on long-term safety, stability, and product quality.

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Publication Details

Journal
Microorganisms
Published
2026-04-17
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14040910
Primary Topic
Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
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article

Biosurfactants as Antibiofilm Agents for Medical Devices: Mechanisms, Evidence and Integration into Infection Prevention and Control

İbrahim M. Banat, Sunday Stephen Abi
Microorganisms
Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
article

Biosurfactants as Antibiofilm Agents for Medical Devices: Mechanisms, Evidence and Integration into Infection Prevention and Control

İbrahim M. Banat, Sunday Stephen Abi
article en

Abstract

spp., and it was generally noted that BSs reduced microbial adhesion and delayed early biofilm formation on medical devices and healthcare-related surfaces. Significant evidence also suggests that they partially disrupt biofilms and improve antimicrobial penetration when co-applied, mainly through membrane disruption, destabilization of extracellular substances, interfering with quorum sensing, and synergistic and/or antagonistic interactions with other molecules. Their performance varied with class, formulation, hydrodynamic conditions, and microbial composition. BSs function better as preventive and adjunctive IPC tools than stand-alone antimicrobial agents and can help to reduce biofilm formation on devices and improve surface disinfection. However, translating this promise into practice demands more robust data on long-term safety, stability, and product quality.

MicroorganismsVol. 14(4)
University of Ulster (GB), Oldham Council (GB)
Openalex Percentile: Top 24%
Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
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