Effectiveness test of disinfectants to eliminate biofilm in radiopharmacy

Biofilms consist of sessile microbial cell communities embedded in extracellular polymeric matrices adhered to substrates, interfaces and many kind of surfaces. The presence of biofilms is critical in medical environment and pharmaceutical production areas, given the possibility of biofilm detaching from adherent surfaces and to be transported to distant points, spreading microbial contamination. Industrial radiopharmacy faces the same difficulties as the conventional pharmaceutical industry to control biofilms in production areas, mainly where systems containing water are present. Specific literature is almost non-existent, encouraging studies about the theme. Stepanović suggested a criterion to classify bacterial species into non-producers, weak, moderator, and strong producers biofilm formation potential. Due the resistance to mechanical or chemical removal with antimicrobials, the use of effectiveness disinfectant to eliminate or control biofilms is essential. The objective of this work was to classify 23 microorganism biofilms from a non-radioactive radiopharmaceutical production area and to propose a test to evaluate the effectiveness of some disinfectants to eradicate strong microbial contaminant. (author). (author)