Relevance and Importance of Biofilms in the Resistance and Spreading of Campylobacter spp. Within the Food Chain

Abstract

Campylobacter spp. are Gram-negative microaerophilic and non-spore-forming bacteria that primarily live as commensal organisms in the gastrointestinal tract of many domestic and wild birds and mammals. These frequently provoke foodborne illness, being responsible for the most common cause of acute bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Although these are typically fastidious and slow-growing microorganisms which are sensitive to desiccation and other stresses (e.g., extreme pH, freezing, UV, disinfectants), these can still survive outside their host for long periods, with their attachment to surfaces and the formation of and/or inclusion into biofilms to be considered quite important for their environmental survival and widespread dissemination. In this chapter, the most representative studies on the existence, relevance, and importance of biofilms in the resistance and spreading of Campylobacter spp. within the food chain are presented. Hopefully, such accumulated and focused knowledge is expected to highlight the problem and trigger more effective ways for its mitigation, improving the safety of our food supply and protecting public health.