ASTM_E_1427_-_00e1.pdf

Designation:E 1427 00e1Standard Guide forSelecting Test Methods to Determine the Effectiveness ofAntimicrobial Agents and Other Chemicals for thePrevention,Inactivation and Removal of Biofilm1This standard is issued under the fixed designation E 1427;the number immediately following the designation indicates the year oforiginal adoption or,in the case of revision,the year of last revision.A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.Asuperscript epsilon(e)indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.e1NOTESections 1.1 and 1.4 were editorially updated in June 2001.1.Scope1.1 Microorganisms attach to surfaces and grow,formingcommunities that are called biofilms.In addition to microor-ganisms,biofilms may contain the by-products of microbialgrowth(that is,polysaccharides,enzymes,etc.),inorganic ions(that is,Mg,Ca,Fe,etc.)and organic materials(that is,oil,exudates from plants or animals,etc.).Biofilms may be foundin many places,including on cooling system equipment(thatis,cooling towers,heat exchangers,etc.),water and oilpipelines,food and pharmaceutical processing surfaces andlines,dental water unit lines and medical prosthetic devices.1.2 Biofilm formation may lead to reduced heat transfer incooling towers,decreased fluid flow in pipelines,corrosion ofmetal surfaces,spoilage of food and pharmaceutical products,and infection in humans.The adverse impact of biofilm growthhas led to the need for chemical or physical treatments forcontrolling them.This may involve preventing biofilm forma-tion,inactivating microbes in biofilms and removing biofilms.1.3 Since biofilms may form in many different types ofsystems,no one method can be presented that evaluates all thefactors affecting biofilm control;therefore,many methods arepresented for forming biofilms.Detecting and measuringbiofilms and microorganisms within biofilms are important inevaluating control procedures.Many procedures are listed andreferenced for measurement of microorganisms in biofilms andbiofilm mass and activity.1.4 The purpose of this guide is to inform the investigator ofmethods that can be used for biofilm formation and measure-ment,allowing development of test procedures for determiningthe effectiveness of chemical treatments for prevention,inac-tivation,and removal of unwanted biofilm.This guide is ateaching tool that will help the researcher in planning studiesfor controlling biofilms.This guide is not an exhaustive surveyof biofilm methods.It is recommended that the researcherconsult the latest information on biofilm methods from thepublished scientific literature and from appropriate internetsites,using biofilm as the keyword.21.5 Discussions of various methods for evaluating efficacyof potential control materials against microorganisms in solu-tion are available.32.Referenced Documents2.1 This guide lists methods that can be used in forming andmeasuring biofilms,which allows development of test methodsfor determining the effectiveness of chemical and physicaltreatments for prevention,inactivation,and removal of un-wanted biofilm.Published procedures for biofilm formationand measurement(Sections 4 and 5)are referenced.3.Significance and Use3.1 This guide should be used by individuals responsible forthe following:3.1.1 The maintenance of systems in which fluids come incontact with surfaces,which adversely could be effected by thepresence of biofilm.3.1.2 The development of methods,that is,chemicals,toprevent,inactivate,or remove biofilm from various systems.3.1.3 The verification of specific claims for chemicals toprevent,inactivate,or remove biofilm from specific systems.3.2 The systems considered include,but are not limited to,those designed for drinking water distribution,food processing,industrial process fluids,and treated or untreated body fluids.3.2.1 The adverse effects of biofilm in these systems includeproduct spoilage,loss of production,corrosion,reduced heattransfer,increased morbidity and mortality of the generalpopulation,and outbreaks of hospital-acquired infections.Since many different published methods,which have notundergone the rigors of ASTM Interlaboratory Testing,are1This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee E35 on Pesticides andis the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E35.15 on Antimicrobial Agents.Current edition approved Oct.10,2000.Published January 2001.Originallypublished as E 1427 91.Last previous edition E 1427 91.2Suggested internet sites are PubMed at the National Center for BiotechnologyInformation(www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov)and the American Society for Microbiology(www.journals.asm.org).Utilizing this technology the researcher may obtain thelatest information on biofilms,and tailor their search for the specific informationthey need.3ASTM Standards on Materials and Environmental Microbiology,2nd Edition,1993.1Copyright ASTM,100 Barr Harbor Drive,West Conshohocken,PA 19428-2959,United States.referenced,it is the responsibility of the investigator to verifythe val