Question 42 from UPSC CSE 2022 - S&T

Question

Consider the following statements:
1. Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues.
2. Biofilms can form on food and food processing surfaces.
3. Biofilms can exhibit antibiotic resistance.
Which of the statements given above are correct?

IASCODEX · Accepted Answer

Correct Option: D. 1, 2, and 3

Strategy: - Evaluate if biofilms are restricted to specific environments or occur broadly.
- Confirm their formation on medical implants and food surfaces.
- Acknowledge their role in conferring antibiotic resistance.
- Validate these statements through factual recall, noting their likely correctness due to the absence of extreme or false attributes.

Key Info: Biofilms are communities of microorganisms that adhere to each other and to surfaces, embedded within a self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) matrix. They have the following properties and implications:

- **Medical Implants**: Biofilms commonly form on medical devices such as catheters, heart valves, prosthetic joints, and intrauterine devices. Their presence can lead to persistent infections that are difficult to treat and often require device removal.

- **Food and Food Processing Surfaces**: In the food industry, biofilms can develop on nearly any surface that comes into contact with food, including cutting boards, stainless steel, conveyor belts, and plastic containers. They can harbor spoilage organisms or pathogens (e.g., Listeria, Salmonella), posing food safety risks and complicating cleaning procedures.

- **Antibiotic Resistance**: Bacteria within biofilms exhibit enhanced resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants compared to their free-floating (planktonic) counterparts. The EPS matrix hinders antibiotic penetration, and close proximity facilitates genetic exchange, including resistance genes, making infections harder to eradicate.

Biofilms are significant in clinical, industrial, and environmental contexts and are a major concern for infection control, food safety, and bioremediation efforts. Examples include dental plaque, biofouling in water pipes, and persistent wound infections.

IASCODEX · Answer

Option A: 1 and 2 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option B: 2 and 3 only

IASCODEX · Answer

Option C: 1 and 3 only

Consider the following statements: Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues. Biofilms can form on food and food processing surfaces. Biofilms can exhibit antibiotic resistance. Which of the statements given above are correct?

Consider the following statements:

Biofilms can form on medical implants within human tissues.

Biofilms can form on food and food processing surfaces.

Biofilms can exhibit antibiotic resistance.
Which of the statements given above are correct?