Acta Vet. Brno 2023, 92: 189-195

https://doi.org/10.2754/avb202392020189

Biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus on stainless steel surfaces and evaluation of its sensitivity to sanitizers

Mária Vargová1, František Zigo2, Jana Výrostková3, Katarína Veszelits Laktičová1, Šárka Bursová4, Silvia Ondrašovičová5

1University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Department of Public Veterinary Medicine and Animal Welfare, Košice, Slovakia
2University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Department of Nutrition and Animal Husbandry, Košice, Slovakia
3University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Department of Food Hygiene Technology and Safety, Košice, Slovakia
4University of Veterinary Sciences Brno, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, Department of Animal Origin Food and Gastronomic Sciences, Czech Republic
5University of Veterinary Medicine and Pharmacy in Košice, Department of Biology and Physiology, Košice, Slovakia

Received May 27, 2022
Accepted May 4, 2023

This study aimed to assess the ability of adhesion, detachment, and biofilm formation of the reference strain Staphylococcus aureus CCM 4223 on a stainless steel surface, and the efficacy of three disinfectants: preparation A (based on peracetic acid, 20 mg/l), preparation B (newly developed disinfectant with a combination of two active ingredients, caprylic acid and hydrogen peroxide, 25 mg/l), and preparation C (based on sodium hypochlorite, 200 mg/l) in removing S. aureus cells adhered onto this surface. Cell detachment was around 5 log CFU/cm2 (colony forming units) over the first 6 h and around 6 log CFU/cm2 over 48 h characterizing a high persistence of cells on the tested surface. The number of cells (5–7 log CFU/cm2) needed for biofilm formation was noted already after 6 h of incubation. The decrease in cell counts caused by preparation A was 1.12–2.07 log CFU/cm2 (P < 0.0001), whereas for preparation C and preparation B, the decrease was 1.13–2.08 log CFU/cm2 and 1.61–2.16 log CFU/cm2, respectively (P < 0.0001). Preparation A was found to be the most effective (80.9%) in reducing the adhered cell count in the biofilm matrix. From these results, the assayed S. aureus strain revealed high capacities to adhere and form biofilms on stainless steel surfaces, and the cells in biofilm matrixes were resistant to total removal when exposed to the evaluated disinfectants.

Funding

This work was supported by the Slovak KEGA agency grant no. 004UVLF-4-2020.

References

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