Sanitizing cinnamaldehyde solutions against Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms formed on stainless steel surfaces

Abstract Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen capable of forming biofilms of great relevance to medical microbiology and the food industry. Essential oil (EOs) constituents have been researched as new strategies for the control of biofilms. In the present study cinnamaldehyde was shown to be an effective EO against the planktonic cells of P. aeruginosa strains (p < 0.05). Thus it was used to prepare sanitizing solutions, which were tested against P. aeruginosa biofilms formed on stainless steel surfaces. Cinnamaldehyde showed antibacterial activity against sessile P. aeruginosa cells (p < 0.05). A 100% (5.87 log-reduction) elimination of viable bacterial cells was obtained after treatment with a 6xMIC (0.06% Minimal Inhibitory Concentration) solution for the strain ATCC 9027. Sanitizing cinnamaldehyde solutions can be used as new alternatives to control such microbial sessile communities in food industries.