Characterization of biofilm growth and biocide susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium phlei using the MBEC (TM) assay system

The importance of non-tuberculosis mycobacterial biofilm species in medicin e, industry and the environment has recently gained attention. Our objectiv es were to characterize biofilm growth of Mycobacterium phlei M4, as a mode l of rapidly growing mycobacteria using the minimal biofilm eradication con centration (MBEC (TM)) and to compare biocide susceptibility of planktonic and biofilm organisms. Scanning electron microscopy was also carried out to observe biofilm morphology, With the exception of Sporicidin (R) and Virko n (R) the minimum bactericidal concentration values for all biocides tested were lower than the MBEC values. The MBECT (TM) assay system was seen to p roduce multiple and reproducible biofilms of M. phlei and to be a useful to ol for susceptibility studies. (C) 2001 Federation of European Microbiologi cal Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.