Biofilm

What is Biofilm?

A biofilm is a community of microorganisms, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, embedded in a slimy matrix which can attach to various surfaces. Biofilms can exist on inert surfaces, such as glass, plastic, and metal. But biofilms can also use plant and animal tissues as a substrate. The slimy extracellular matrix of a biofilm provides protection for the microorganisms within it, resulting in an increased resistance to disinfectants, antibiotics, and a host’s immune system. Biofilms can create major problems in the health care, food, and manufacturing industries. These problems can include infections from implantable medical devices, contamination of food and food-contact surfaces, and corrosion or other damage to equipment.

Biofilm in Health Care

There have been major advances in medical devices over the last few decades. These advances have kept thousands of people alive and improved the quality of life for many others. At the same time, medical devices, such as implants, catheters, in-dwelling devices, and contact lenses, can be the source of serious or life-threatening infections caused by the adherence and establishment of biofilms on the surfaces of these devices. Due to the unique nature of a biofilm’s structure and its resistance to antimicrobial agents, minimizing the risk of biofilm formation poses great challenges.

Nelson Labs Biofilm Testing

Nelson Labs offers services to companies that want to substantiate anti-biofilm claims for their products, and we can assist you in test design and execution. Our team of biofilm experts has worked on some of the most complex biofilm-efficacy evaluations and are prepared to offer this expertise to you. Using ASTM methods, customized experiments, and regulatory insight, Nelson Labs can help you generate the data required to support your anti-biofilm claims, such as biofilm kill, removal, and prevention.

Below are some examples of biofilms for which we can provide disinfectant-efficacy testing:

• Chronic wound biofilms
• Oral biofilms
• Biofilms in or on medical devices
• Drug synergy (modified checkerboard assay)
• Biofilm in treated water systems (e.g., dental water systems and hemodialysis systems)

Test Methods:

• CDC Biofilm Reactor Protocol ASTM E2562 and ASTM E3161
• Drip Flow Reactor Protocol ASTM E2871
• Modified Colony/Drip Flow Reactor Protocol
• Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC) Testing ASTM E2799
• Antimicrobial Activity and Biofilm Resistance Properties of Tube, Yarn, or Fiber Specimen ASTM E3151
• Measuring the Ability of a Synthetic Polymeric Material to Resist Bacterial Adherence ASTM E3371
• Intraluminal Catheter Model used to Evaluate Antimicrobial Urinary Catheters for Prevention of Escherichia coli Biofilm Growth ASTM E3321
• EPA Protocols (MB-19, MB-20)
• Zero-Shear (Static) Colony Biofilm Method
• Custom experimental designs

Test Codes

If you would like to inquire about any of the services listed on this page, please submit the quote request form below.