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Chapter 5<br />

discussed in chapter 4. The reasons for the switch most likely relates to the<br />

fact that crystal violet staining stains all cellular biomass contained in the<br />

wells <strong>of</strong> the plates and therefore does not discriminate between viable and<br />

non-viable cells [231].<br />

Alternative methods <strong>of</strong> using fluorescent stains to detect live cells [231] or<br />

both viable and non viable cells have been reported in recent years. Pitts<br />

et al. calculated percentage reduction <strong>of</strong> viable cells in a bi<strong>of</strong>ilm through<br />

measuring the absorbance <strong>of</strong> a cell respiratory stain (5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl<br />

tetrazolium chloride or CTC) post treatment with chlorine [231]. The<br />

percentage reduction in active metabolism was then used to evaluate the<br />

efficacy <strong>of</strong> the disinfectant treatments (reduction calculated from<br />

untreated wells – treated wells). This method was compared to the<br />

microtitre plate method (percentage removal <strong>of</strong> biomass) and enumeration<br />

<strong>of</strong> viable cells using the plate count method. The results suggest that there<br />

was an overall trend for all methods to display less viable bi<strong>of</strong>ilm cells (P.<br />

aeruginosa and S. epidermidis) after exposure to increased concentrations<br />

<strong>of</strong> chlorine. The percentage reduction using CTC corresponded with the<br />

mean log 10 reduction results achieved through use <strong>of</strong> the plate count<br />

method, while the crystal violet methods did not show a similar level <strong>of</strong><br />

reduction [231]. As discussed in chapter 4, according to the CEN standards<br />

EN13697:2001, a 4log 10 reduction in viable count is necessary to<br />

demonstrate the efficacy <strong>of</strong> a disinfectant against a bacterial suspension<br />

attached to a surface [133]. Although the criteria that can be applied to<br />

assess disinfectant efficacy by percentage using LIVE/DEAD staining is not<br />

defined is not defined in the CEN standard EN13697:2001.<br />

Vestby et al. also investigated the use <strong>of</strong> synthetic furanone to inhibit<br />

bi<strong>of</strong>ilm formation using a microtitre plate based system [113]. They<br />

examined the effect <strong>of</strong> pre-exposure to furanone followed by treatment<br />

Page 161

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