Isolation of biofilm forming microflora from organized dairy plants and assessing their Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Biofilm Eradication Concentration (MBEC)

Biofilms are an aggregate of microbial cells which gets embedded on the self-produced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS). The microbial cells won’t get exposed to the surface as they are protected by layers of EPS and food particles which get deposited over the biofilm as it ages. Hence it can be a havoc in food and dairy industry since its eradication seems impossible with usual cleaning and sanitary protocols. This study was intended to isolate biofilm forming microflora from nearby organized dairy plants. Biofilm forming potential of these organisms were reconfirmed using standard protocol. In addition, pathogenicity of these organisms was assessed using hemolysis on blood agar and gelatin liquefaction assays. Further minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and microbial biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of these organisms against selected standard disinfectants were assayed. From the overall assessment of sanitizers with biofilm formers, benzalkonium chloride was found to be more effective with minimum concentration of 20 ppm whereas other halogen-based sanitizers showed higher MBEC values.