A French study found the disinfectants recommended by water line manufacturers don't completely remove bacterial biofilms from the lines, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.
Researchers from Université de Poitiers in France analyzed three disinfectants used to control biofilms in dental water lines.
Bacteria can grow in communities with protective layers over themselves, called biofilms. Biofilms can be particularly difficult to prevent and remove even using disinfectants.
The team tested how well the disinfectants removed biofilms from the lines and found that none of them were completely effective on a polymicrobial biofilm.
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