Optimizing Sanitation and Disinfection Practices; Clostridioides difficile Spores and Dry Surface Biofilms of Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa As Models

Bacterial biofilms are 1,000 times harder to kill than planktonic bacteria. Spores are also harder to kill compared to vegetative cells. We developed a rapid model for establishing dry surface bacterial biofilms for disinfectant efficacy testing and challenged them with seven EPA-registered disinfectants. We also demonstrated that during the disinfection of surfaces contaminated with bacterial spores, disinfectant wipes may transfer spores from contaminated to uncontaminated surfaces.