Controlling of foodborne pathogen biofilms on stainless steel by bacteriophages: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Rahim Azari, Mohammad Hashem Yousefi, Aziz A. Fallah, A. Alimohammadi, Nastaran Nikjoo, Jeroen Wagemans, Enayat Berizi, Saeid Hosseinzadeh, Mohammad Reza Ghasemi, Amin Mousavi Khaneghah
Abstract
This study investigates the potential of using bacteriophages to control foodborne pathogen biofilms on stainless steel surfaces in the food industry. Biofilm-forming bacteria can attach to stainless steel surfaces, rendering them difficult to eradicate even after a thorough cleaning and sanitizing procedures. Bacteriophages have been proposed as a possible solution, as they can penetrate biofilms and destroy bacterial cells within, reducing the number of viable bacteria and preventing the growth and spread of biofilms. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluates the potential of bacteriophages against different biofilm-forming foodborne bacteria, including Cronobacter sakazakii , Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Pseudomonas fluorescens , Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Listeria monocytogenes . Bacteriophage treatment generally causes a significant average reduction of 38 % in biofilm formation of foodborne pathogens on stainless steel. Subgroup analyses revealed that phages are more efficient in long-duration treatment. Also, applying a cocktail of phages is 1.26-fold more effective than applying individual phages. Phages at concentrations exceeding 10 7 PFU/ml are significantly more efficacious in eradicating bacteria within a biofilm. The antibacterial phage activity decreases substantially by 3.54-fold when applied at 4 °C compared to temperatures above 25 °C. This analysis suggests that bacteriophages can be a promising solution for controlling biofilms in the food industry. • Phages lead to an overall reduction of 38 % in the bacterial count of biofilms. • Bacteria in biofilms aged over 6 h were significantly resistant to phage. • Phages were substantially efficient over 25 °C compared with lower temperatures. • Phage at 10 8 PFU/cm 2 or more was twice as efficient as lower concentrations. • Phages are efficient in both short and prolonged treatment.