Efficacy of a quaternary ammonium compound against planktonic and sessile populations of different Legionella pneumophila strains

Abstract

Efficacy of Gemacide PN-50™ (a quaternary ammonium compound) as a commercial formulation recommended for disinfecting heat exchangers was determined for both planktonic and sessile populations of various Legionella pneumophila strains. The quaternary ammonium compound (QAC) was preferred as an alternative due to the emerging resistance of potentially pathogenic bacteria against different biocides. Planktonic L. pneumophila strains were suspended in tap water while sessile ones were grown on stainless steel that is used in construction of the cooling towers, then both group of strains were exposed to the biocide. The sensitivity of both planktonic and sessile populations of L. pneumophila strains to the biocide was different. The biocide was found effective below recommended dosages (1000-2000 mg/L) against planktonic populations of L. pneumophila, whereas it was determined that higher than the recommended dosages were required for sessile populations. The environmental isolates were more resistant to the biocide than the ATCC isolate was. The results indicated that studying only the planktonic populations of L. pneumophila for biocide tests might not be sufficient to provide the optimum dosage and contact time information for field trials. Therefore, biocidal activity of a water treatment chemical must be evaluated in terms of dosage and contact times on both planktonic and sessile bacteria.