Abstract
Adhesion behavior of Staphylococcus epideymidis from its suspension onto stainless steel (SUS304) surface was studied, focusing on the effects of such factors as initial cell concentration of suspension, suspending medium, and roughness of stainless steel surface. For all cell concentrations tested (102-104 CFU/ml), adhesion occurred at low levels within 0.5h of exposure to the cell suspension, and reached maximum levels in 3 h. The number of adherent cells per surface area was approximately proportional to the cell concentration of the suspension. Significantly higher adhesion was observed for cells suspended in peptone saline than those suspended in physiological saline. Significantly higher adhesion was also observed on roughly polished surface (Ra=1.37μm) than on smoother surfaces (Ra≤0.14μm) . Shear force application by whirlpool rinsing removed only 50-82% of the adherent cells. The presence of cells still remaining on the surface indicated that the adhesion of S. epideymidis cells was irreversible in part.
