Biofilm Production and its Role in Antimicrobial Resistance: A Cross-Sectional Study of Clinical Isolates

Background: Biofilm formation is an important virulence factor that contributes to antimicrobial resistance among clinical bacterial isolates. However, the relationship between biofilm production and antimicrobial resistance remains variable across different healthcare settings. This study also aimed to determine the prevalence of biofilm production and evaluate its association with antimicrobial resistance among clinical bacterial isolates in a tertiary care hospital. Material and Methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted over a period of 6 months in the Department of Microbiology, GMERS Medical College and Hospital, Porbandar. A total of 60 non-duplicate clinical isolates obtained from various specimens including urine, pus, blood, sputum, and device-associated samples were included. Bacterial identification was performed using standard microbiological techniques. Biofilm production was detected using Congo Red Agar (CRA) method and Tube adherence method. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method as per CLSI M100Ed36E guidelines. The association between biofilm production and antimicrobial resistance was analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Results: Out of 60 isolates, 31 were identified as biofilm producers while 29 were non-biofilm producers. The predominant organism was E. coli (32), followed by Staphylococcus spp. (15), Pseudomonas (5), Klebsiella (4), and Enterococcus (4). Among 31 biofilm-producing isolates, 71.0% exhibited multidrug resistance. Conclusion: Biofilm production was observed in a substantial proportion of clinical isolates. A higher rate of multidrug resistance was noted among biofilm-producing isolates, indicating an association between biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance. However, this relationship may vary depending on the bacterial species.