Impact of biocides on biofilm formation by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (ST239-SCCmecIII) isolates

Procedures of sterilization and disinfection are essential to ensure that medical and surgical instruments will not transmit infectious pathogens to patients. In the present paper, we tested the residual effect of these compounds on biofilm formation and its efficiency in disrupting preformed biofilms using methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolates of the lineage ST239-SCCmecIII. All compounds examined, except 70% alcohol, caused a significant impairment in biofilm formation with concomitant inhibition of cell growth. Among the compounds examined, 10% povidone-iodine (PVP-I) was the only antiseptic that exhibited more than 90% reduction of both biofilm formation and dispersion. In the group of sterilants and disinfectants, a formulation containing 7% hydrogen peroxide and 0.2% peracetic acid (HP-PA), and sodium hypochlorite with 1% active chlorine (NaOCl) were equally effective.