An investigation of the efficacy of a bromine containing biocide on an aquatic consortium of planktonic and biofilm micro‐organisms including Legionella pneumophila

A biocide (l‐bromo‐3‐chloro‐5,5‐dimethylhydantoin), was tested for efficacy against planktonic and biofilm bacteria in a laboratory model to simulate a water system. BCDMH was continually added to the continuous culture chemostat which was operated using an artificially softened water to simulate conditions within a cooling tower. Biofilm developed on stainless steel and mild steel tiles suspended in the culture. The consortium of bacteria growing in the chemostat model included legionellae, pseudomonads, methylobacteria and actinomycetes. Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes and Achromobacter spp. which were grouped together as Gram negative (GN) bacteria were also present. At biocide concentrations of 1 or 2 mg.l^‐1 bacteria in the planktonic phase were dramatically reduced in the culture whereas only a 1 log drop in viable bacteria was detected in the biofilm. When the concentration of BCDMH was increased to 4 or 6 m.gl^‐1 a 3 log reduction was observed in the number of viable bacteria recovered from the biofilm. This indicates that bacteria contained within a biofilm are more refractory to attack from anti‐microbial agents such as BCDMH. Significantly, legionellae were more susceptible to the biocide than other members of the microbial consortium: legionellae were not recovered from either biofilm of planktonic phases of the model system at BCDMH concentrations of 1 mg.l^‐1.

Key words:

• Legionella pneumophila
• biofilm
• stainless steel
• biocide
• chemostat
• water

Notes

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