Reduced susceptibility to disinfectants of Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms on glass and ceramic

  • Tomislav Ivanković Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb
  • Ivana Goić-Barišić University Hospital Centre Split, Department of Clinical Microbiology and University of Split School of Medicine, Split
  • Jasna Hrenović Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb
Keywords: benzalkonium chloride, Hospital infections, chlorhexidine, biofilm, hospital infections, surfactants

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the susceptibility of hospital and environmental Acinetobacter baumannii isolate biofilms on ceramics and glass to common disinfectants benzalkonium chloride and chlorhexidine. For this purpose we developed a new method for biofilm cultivation and quantification on ceramics. The biofilm bacteria were more resistant to disinfectants than the planktonic populations, as more than 50 % of the biofilm population and none of the planktonic population survived 5-minute exposure as opposed to none of the planktonic population. Furthermore, biofilm populations on ceramic tiles were significantly more resistant than those on glass coverslips, even though the amount of biofilm was practically the same on ceramics and glass. The reason for reduced susceptibility of A. baumannii biofilms on ceramics may be related to surface/disinfection interactions. Our findings suggest that biofilms on ceramic surfaces can be an important source of A. baumannii infection in hospital environments.

Published
2017-06-16
How to Cite
1.
Ivanković T, Goić-Barišić I, Hrenović J. Reduced susceptibility to disinfectants of Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms on glass and ceramic. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol [Internet]. 2017Jun.16 [cited 2024Mar.29];68(2). Available from: https://arhiv.imi.hr/index.php/arhiv/article/view/719
Section
Original article

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