ABSTRACT
The effects of two aldehyde (Cidex, Endosporine) and four peracetic acid (PAA) (Nu Cidex, Anioxyde 1000, Hydraseptic, Peralkan) disinfectants on an Escherichia coli biofilm model were studied. The biofilm was prepared in glass tubes, and evaluated indirectly using a colourimetric method. The ability of the disinfectants to fix or remove the biofilm from tubes was determined by their detergent activity (DA). The two aldehyde derivatives and two of the PAA (Nu Cidex, Anioxyde 1000) agents fixed the biofilm. However, the effects of Hydraseptic and Peralkan were equivalent to the control (sterile water). Regardless of their disinfectant activity, PAA agents display different DAs that could be used to select the weakest biofilm-fixing agents. Users should be concerned about the efficiency of the cleaning stage of medical devices, and when choosing a PAA product, non-fixing ability should be considered in addition to antimicrobial activity.
