Efficacy of disinfectants and hot water against biofilm cells of Burkholderia cepacia.

The effects of various disinfectants and hot water on planktonic cells and biofilm cells of Burkholderia cepacia were investigated. The survival rate of viable B. cepacia cells in suspension decreased to 0.001% or lower within 15 s of exposure to 0.5% benzalkonium chloride, within 30 s of exposure to 0.5% alkyldiaminoethyl glycine, or within 1 min of exposure to 0.1% alkyldiaminoethyl glycine, and decreased to about 0.1% with 60 min of exposure to 0.1% benzalkonium chloride or 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate, but did not decrease to 1% or less with 60 min of exposure to 0.1% chlorhexidine gluconate. There were no effects of 0.1% and 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 0.1% benzalkonium chloride against biofilm cells of B. cepacia, and 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate, 0.5% benzalkonium chloride and 0.1% alkyldiaminoethyl glycine were barely effective against biofilm cells even after 60-min exposure. On the other hand, both planktonic cells and biofilm cells of B. cepacia were eradicated within 15 s by sodium hypochlorite, povidone-iodine, 80% v/v ethanol, and hot water at 65 degrees C or higher.