Sanitizing Effect of Ethanol Against Biofilms Formed by Three Gram-Negative Pathogenic Bacteria

Curr Microbiol. 2015 Jul;71(1):70-5. doi: 10.1007/s00284-015-0828-4. Epub 2015 May 5.

Abstract

Sanitizing effect of ethanol on a Yersinia enterocolitica biofilm was evaluated in terms of biomass removal and bactericidal activity. We found that 40 % ethanol was most effective for biofilm biomass removal; however, no significant difference was observed in bactericidal activity between treatment with 40 and 70 % ethanol. This unexpected low ethanol concentration requirement for biomass removal was confirmed using biofilms of two additional pathogenic bacteria, Aeromonas hydrophila and Xanthomonas oryzae. Although only three pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria were tested and the biofilm in nature was different from the biofilm in this study, the results in this study suggested the possible re-evaluation of the effective sanitizing ethanol concentration 70 %, which is the concentration commonly employed for sanitization, on bacteria in a biofilm.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aeromonas hydrophila / drug effects
  • Aeromonas hydrophila / physiology*
  • Biofilms / drug effects*
  • Disinfectants / pharmacology*
  • Ethanol / pharmacology*
  • Microbial Viability / drug effects*
  • Xanthomonas / drug effects
  • Xanthomonas / physiology*
  • Yersinia enterocolitica / drug effects
  • Yersinia enterocolitica / physiology*

Substances

  • Disinfectants
  • Ethanol