title: Control of Biofilm Formation: Antibiotics and Beyond.
abstract: Biofilm-associated bacteria are less sensitive to antibiotics than free-living (planktonic) cells. Furthermore, with variations in the concentration of antibiotics throughout a biofilm, microbial cells are often exposed to levels below inhibitory concentrations and may develop resistance. This, as well as the irresponsible use of antibiotics, leads to the selection of pathogens that are difficult to eradicate. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention use the terms "antibiotic" and "antimicrobial agent" interchangeably. However, a clear distinction between these two terms is required for the purpose of this assessment. Therefore, we define "antibiotics" as pharmaceutically formulated and medically administered substances and "antimicrobials" as a broad category of substances which are not regulated as drugs. This comprehensive minireview evaluates the effect of natural antimicrobials on pathogens in biofilms when used instead of, or in combination with, commonly prescribed antibiotics.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.|Department of Microbiology, Veterinary College, Diyala University, Baqubah, Iraq.
authors.forename: Ammar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Algburi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Comito
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Dimitri
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kashtanov
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, Matieland (Stellenbosch), South Africa.
authors.forename: Leon M T
authors.initials: LMT
authors.lastname: Dicks
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA tchikindas@aesop.rutgers.edu.|Center for Digestive Health, New Jersey Institute for Food, Nutrition, and Health, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.
authors.forename: Michael L
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7265-4562
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Chikindas
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena / Q000187:drug effects*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents
keywords: biofilms; complementary medicines; integrative approach; natural antimicrobial products