Biofilms and microbial response to antimicrobial agents
| Mechanism of resistance associated with biofilms | Comment |
|---|---|
| Exclusion or reduced access of antiseptic or disinfectant to underlying cell |   Depends on (i) nature of antiseptic/disinfectant, (ii) binding capacity of glycocalyx toward antiseptic or disinfectant, and (iii) rate of growth of microcolony relative to diffusion rate of chemical inhibitor |
| Modulation of microenvironment | Associated with (i) nutrient limitation and (ii) growth rate |
| Increased production of degradative enzymes by attached cells | Mechanism unclear at present |
| Plasmid transfer between cells in biofilm? | Associated with enhanced tolerance to antiseptics and disinfectants? |