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View/Open - ARAN - National University of Ireland, Galway

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Chapter 4<br />

acid and quaternary ammonium solutions. Anderson et al. suggested that<br />

the presence <strong>of</strong> a glycocalyx (EPS <strong>of</strong> bi<strong>of</strong>ilm) provided protection to cells<br />

within the bi<strong>of</strong>ilm, as a result the PVC pipe acted as a reservoir to initiate<br />

recurring contamination [202].<br />

4.1.1. Methods for testing disinfectant efficacy and bactericidal activity<br />

Disinfectants are <strong>of</strong>ten marketed as active against Salmonella however<br />

these results are <strong>of</strong>ten based on suspension test results only [134]. Tests <strong>of</strong><br />

disinfectant activity against bacteria in suspension may have some<br />

relevance for studying the mechanisms by which disinfectants enter and<br />

kill cells. However suspension tests are <strong>of</strong> limited relevance to control <strong>of</strong><br />

bi<strong>of</strong>ilm as they do not mimic real-life conditions in contaminated<br />

environments when cells are more frequently attached to surfaces and/or<br />

present in bi<strong>of</strong>ilm that in suspension [140]. Disinfectants are generally less<br />

active against bi<strong>of</strong>ilms than against bacteria that are suspended<br />

planktonically. However there is both limited and contradictory<br />

information on the extent to which disinfectants are effective against<br />

bi<strong>of</strong>ilms at different stages in maturation [149].<br />

Methods for assessing the efficacy <strong>of</strong> disinfectants must be reasonably<br />

practical to perform, relevant to real life conditions, valid in reaching log 10<br />

reduction (i.e. ensure no other components are contributing to any<br />

observed reduction) and sufficient to withstand any minor environmental<br />

changes [183]. Methods for evaluating efficacy <strong>of</strong> surface disinfectants<br />

must also be responsive to changes such as concentration <strong>of</strong> test agents<br />

with accurate enumeration <strong>of</strong> viable cells <strong>of</strong> a remaining pathogen and<br />

must be reproducible [117]. In order to mimic real life conditions, the<br />

disinfectant work described in this chapter is performed using the CDC<br />

bi<strong>of</strong>ilm reactor model with concrete coupons used as a bi<strong>of</strong>ilm substratum.<br />

Concrete was chosen as an appropriate substratum as it is commonly<br />

Page<br />

117

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