Evaluation of <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium biofilm against some antibiotics

Abstract

<i>Salmonella</i> is an important bacterium causing diseases that affect humans and animals. Biofilm is an organized bacterial community dwelling in any ecosystem. Microorganisms which grow as biofilm phenotypes are cause of chronic, recurrent and highly antibiotic resistant infections which are difficult to eradicate. In the present study, <i>Salmonella</i> Typhimurium was incubated in various media (BHI, RV, NB, TSB and LB) along with various substrates (chitin, glass wool and plastic chips) to observe its ability to form biofilm. From the study, it was observed that <i> S</i>.Typhimurium successfully produced biofilm in all the media tested and was produced maximally when added with 1% chitin. The biofilm developed was exposed to the enzyme cellulase and it indicated that cellulase was having inhibitory effect on the biofilm. Biofilm and the normal phenotype were exposed to various antibiotics <i>viz</i>., amikacin, gentamicin, tetracycline and streptomycin and it was observed that increased concentration of antibiotics were required to completely inhibit biofilm when compared with the bacterium. However, antibiotics such as enrofloxacin and chloramphenicol inhibited biofilm phenotype and the bacteria at similar concentrations.