Biofilms on instruments and environmental surfaces: Do they interfere with instrument reprocessing and surface disinfection? Review of the literature

Abstract

There is a growing appreciation for the role of biofilm-embedded microbes in many different aspects of infection transmission. The format of biofilm includes traditional hydrated biofilm, build-up biofilm, and dry surface biofilm. The objectives of this article are to discuss how traditional biofilm differs from build-up biofilm and dry surface biofilm, and to review the evidence supporting infection transmission from biofilm that accumulates in reprocessed instruments and from dry biofilm that forms environmental reservoirs.

Keywords: Build-up biofilm; Dry surface biofilm; Endoscopes; Medical devices; Simethicone.