Effect of sanitizers on Vibrio parahaemolyticus in biofilms on stainless steel surface.

The human pathogenic bacterium, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, generally associated with seafoods was tested for its ability
to form biofilm on stainless steel surfaces. This bacterium possessed good adhering ability and formed a biofilm with
a cell density of 2.43 x 104 cm2 on stainless steel surface in a 10-day experimental period. The biofilm bacteria showed
increased resistance to commonly used sanitizers such as iodophor and hypochlorite than planktonic cells. Exposure
to iodophor at as high as 10 μg ml-1 and hypochlorite at 100 and 200 μg ml-1 for 5 min showed a reduction in numbers
by only 2-3 log units and failed to completely inactivate biofilm cells. These results suggest that V. parahaemolyticus
can form biofilm and pose a serious problem in seafood processing facilities.