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Evaluation of the Inhibition of Culturable Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, or Aeromonas hydrophilia by an Existing Drinking Water Biofilm
Citation:
Gibbs, S., M C. Meckes*, M. Ortiz, C. F. Green, AND P. V. Scarpino. Evaluation of the Inhibition of Culturable Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, or Aeromonas hydrophilia by an Existing Drinking Water Biofilm . JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING AND SCIENCE. NRC Research Press, Ottawa, Canada, 7(6):559-568, (2008).
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Description:
Experiments were conducted to determine if an existing biofilm could act as a inhibitor to introduced microorganisms, preventing them from being incorporated into the existing biofilm or forming a biofilm. Biofilm sampling coupons were challenged by a solution of a single indicator organism where one group had a biofilm in existence through being water conditioned (W-conditioned) and a second group of sterile coupons had no biofilm present and were not water conditioned (N-conditioned). Effects of this challenge on N-conditioned coupons were compared to the effect to the W-conditioned. The indicator organisms used individually in the solutions were Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, or Aeromonas hydrophilia. A sterile solution that contained no organisms was used as a control. Glucose was added to separate bacterial groups to assess the lack of carbon within the system and its effect on biofilm development. Conclusions from this study are that existing biofilm acted as a barrier to indicator organisms regardless of the addition of glucose suggesting that an inhibition relationship exists between the existing biofilm and introduced indicator organisms. These pilot study results suggest that elements within a drinking water distribution system would be most vulnerable to formation of a pathogenic biofilm when they are initially placed into service.
