title: Prevalence of microbial biofilms on selected fresh produce and household surfaces.
abstract: Investigations of biofilms in domestic environments are sparsely represented in the literature. In this study, samples of various household surfaces, including food, laundry and kitchen items, were analyzed for evidence of biofilm presence. Visualization of the surfaces was carried out using cryostage scanning electron microscopy (CSEM) and light microscopy. Qualitative evidence of the presence of biofilm formation was obtained from all of the sample groups analyzed, suggesting the widespread existence of microorganisms in biofilms on domestic surfaces. This suggests that biofilms may be important in household hygiene, and highlights the need for standardized, approved biofilm methods suitable for consumer products testing.
authors.affiliation: Center for Biofilm Engineering, 366 EPS Building, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-3980, USA. JRayner@sgu.edu
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rayner
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Veeh
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Flood
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D003257:Consumer Product Safety; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D015995:Prevalence; D014675:Vegetables / Q000382:microbiology*