Biofilm: What Is It and How to Control It
Biofilms, intricate communities of microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and other microscopic entities, thrive on surfaces through a remarkable process of collaboration and self-protection. Encased within a self-produced, slime-like matrix, these microorganisms firmly anchor themselves to a variety of surfaces, from the moist lining of a water pipe to the hard enamel of our teeth. While […]
The Biocide Chlorine Dioxide Stimulates Biofilm Formation in Bacillus subtilis by Activation of the Histidine Kinase KinC
MOSHE SHEMESH, ROBERTO KOLTER, RICHARD LOSICKAMERICAN SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY, JOURNAL OF BACTERIOLOGY, DECEMBER 2010 IntroductionThe goal of this study was to examine how biofilm formation is stimulated by chlorine dioxide, a chemical that is typically very effective and fast-acting against bacteria. The study examined how chlorine dioxide works and how the biofilm acts as a protector […]
Cluster of Carbapenemase-Producing Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Among Patients in an Adult Intensive Care Unit
MEGAN E. CAHILL, MARTHA JAWORSKI, VICTORIA HARCY, ERIN YOUNG, D. CAL HAM, PAIGE GABLE, KRIS K. CARTERCDC, MORBIDITY AND MORTALITY WEEKLY REPORT, AUGUST 2023 IntroductionThe report discusses an examination into the infections of carbapenemase-producing carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CP-CRPA) in an Idaho hospital (Hospital A) between September 2021 and January 2022. The infections present a significant challenge […]
Controlling Legionella in Hospital Drinking Water: An Evidence-Based Review of Disinfection Methods
YUSEN LIN, JANET E. STOUT, VICTOR YUCAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS, INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY, FEBRUARY 2011 IntroductionThis study reviewed the efficacy of different disinfection methods for controlling Legionella in hospitals, including copper-silver ionization, chlorine dioxide, hyperchlorination, monochloramine, UV, point-of-use filtration, and superheat-and-flush. The four criteria each disinfection method must meet to validate efficacy include: ResultsA summary […]
Intermittent Use of Copper-Silver Ionization for Legionella Control in Water Distribution Systems: A Potential Option in Buildings Housing Individuals at Low Risk of Infection
ZEMING LIU, JANET E. STOUT, MARCIE BOLDIN, JOHN RUGH, WARREN F. DIVEN, VICTOR L. YUOXFORD ACADEMIC, CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES, JANUARY 1998 IntroductionThis study evaluated three healthcare facilities colonized with Legionella to determine if: ResultsThe Legionella positivity rate (percentage of test sites positive for Legionella) was significantly reduced for the two test buildings using copper-silver ionization. Both […]
Biofilm: America’s Newest Water Safety Challenge
The United States has some of the safest drinking water in the world. But its water supply is facing a new challenge — a slimy growth inside pipes that is encouraging outbreaks of illness responsible for over 7 million illnesses and 6,000 deaths every year. That’s the disturbing finding of a new analysis of waterborne disease from […]
How Biofilm Affects Waterborne Pathogens
Biofilm is a collection of different types of bacteria, fungi, and protists in a colony enveloped in secreted slime that allows them to adhere to moist surfaces ideal for growth. Biofilm is one of the most common techniques for the growth and protection of these microorganisms and is not only a nuisance but a potential […]
