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Is a reduction in viability enough to determine biofilm susceptibility to a biocide?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 March 2021

Katarzyna Ledwoch Open the ORCID record for Katarzyna Ledwoch [Opens in a new window] ,
Maddalena Magoga ,
Dulcie Williams ,
Stefania Fabbri ,
James Walsh  and
Jean-Yves Maillard Open the ORCID record for Jean-Yves Maillard [Opens in a new window]
Katarzyna Ledwoch
Affiliation:
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom GAMA Healthcare, Watford, United Kingdom
Maddalena Magoga
Affiliation:
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Dulcie Williams
Affiliation:
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Stefania Fabbri
Affiliation:
Perfectus Biomed Group, Cheshire, United Kingdom
James Walsh
Affiliation:
Department of Electrical Engineering and Electronics, School of Electrical Engineering, Electronics & Computer Science, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
Jean-Yves Maillard*
Affiliation:
School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
*
Author for correspondence: Prof Jean-Yves Maillard, E-mail: MaillardJ@cardiff.ac.uk
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Abstract

Objective:

The abundance and prevalence of dry-surface biofilms (DSBs) in hospitals constitute an emerging problem, yet studies rarely report the cleaning and disinfection efficacy against DSBs. Here, the combined impact of treatments on viability, transferability, and recovery of bacteria from DSBs has been investigated for the first time.

Methods:

Staphylococcus aureus DSBs were produced in alternating 48-hour wet–dry cycles for 12 days on AISI 430 stainless steel discs. The efficacy of 11 commercially available disinfectants, 4 detergents, and 2 contactless interventions were tested using a modified standardized product test. Reduction in viability, direct transferability, cross transmission (via glove intermediate), and DSB recovery after treatment were measured.

Results:

Of 11 disinfectants, 9 were effective in killing and removing bacteria from S. aureus DSBs with >4 log10 reduction. Only 2 disinfectants, sodium dichloroisocyanurate 1,000 ppm and peracetic acid 3,500 ppm, were able to lower both direct and cross transmission of bacteria (<2 compression contacts positive for bacterial growth). Of 11 disinfectants, 8 could not prevent DSB recovery for >2 days. Treatments not involving mechanical action (vaporized hydrogen peroxide and cold atmospheric plasma) were ineffective, producing <1 log10 reduction in viability, DSB regrowth within 1 day, and 100% transferability of DSB after treatment.

Conclusions:

Reduction in bacterial viability alone does not determine product performance against biofilm and might give a false sense of security to consumers, manufacturers and regulators. The ability to prevent bacterial transfer and biofilm recovery after treatment requires a better understanding of the effectiveness of biocidal products.

Type
Original Article
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 42 , Issue 12 , December 2021 , pp. 1486 - 1492
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

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