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Adherence and biofilm formation of M ycobacterium avium , M ycobacterium intracellulare and M ycobacterium abscessus to household plumbing materials
Author(s) -
Mullis S.N.,
Falkinham J.O.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.12272
Subject(s) - mycobacterium abscessus , microbiology and biotechnology , mycobacterium , mycobacterium avium complex , library science , medicine , biology , pathology , computer science , tuberculosis
Aims Measure adherence and biofilm formation by cells of M ycobacterium avium , M ycobacterium intracellulare and M ycobacterium abscessus on common household plumbing materials namely stainless steel, glass, zinc‐galvanized steel, copper and polyvinyl chloride ( PVC ). Methods and Results Coupons in a CDC biofilm reactor were exposed to cell suspensions containing 10 5 NTM colony forming units (CFU) per ml and adherence measured for 6 h. Biofilm formation (increased numbers of adherent CFU ) was measured weekly to 21 days in the absence of substantial numbers of suspended mycobacterial cells. Adherence was rapid and substantial with 2000–15 000 CFU cm −2 adhering within 1–6 h at room temperature. Biofilm numbers reached as high as 10 7 CFU cm −2 . Biofilm‐grown cells of M yco. avium were more adherent compared with suspension‐grown cells. Conclusions M ycobacterium avium, M yco. intracellulare and M yco. abscessus readily adhered and formed biofilms on all types of plumbing materials. Factors influencing adherence and biofilm formation were species, plumbing material and prior growth.