Biofilms can flourish in aqueous environments if areas are missed during cleaning and disinfection.
Click here to enlarge imageThe technologies used in this trial are based on adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is the chemical that causes the firefly to glow, and is found in all living cells. So, if it is present in large quantities on a surface or in water, some microbes, bioburden or biofilms may be present - creating a potential breeding ground for bacteria.
The technology typically involves a sample being taken using a simple test from a surface or a water sample. The test is activated and then measured in a luminometer, which assesses the light emitted by the sample. More light indicates higher ATP; therefore contamination is present.
Microbiological activity, in particular biofilms, can flourish in an aqueous medium providing there are nutrients present and surfaces on which to adhere. In swimming pool environments, water filtration and treatment with chlorine and bromine reduce such build up; therefore minimise contamination and viable bacteria to controllable levels. However, when areas are missed during the cleaning process, gross contamination can reach a level that impairs the effects of filtration and chemical dosing.
Robbie Phillips of Sensitive Water Solutions concluded: "The immediate results not only enabled water treatment staff to verify the effectiveness of their current cleaning regimes but also alerted trial participants to hygiene risk areas which would have otherwise been undetected and alerted managers to areas where hygiene problems might emerge. Armed with this insight we believe the commercial water sector needs to take a far closer look at the potential of rapid hygiene testing."
Author's note:
Colin Hunt is the international product manager of Hygiene Monitoring at Biotrace Ltd, located in Bagland, near Port Talbort, Wales, UK.