Summary: | <i>Pseudomonas</i> spp. are the most commonly found bacteria in food-processing environments due to properties such as a high growth rate at low temperatures, a high tolerance of antimicrobial agents, and biofilm formation. In this study, a set of <i>Pseudomonas</i> isolates originating from cleaned and disinfected surfaces in a salmon processing facility were screened for biofilm formation at 12 °C. A high variation in biofilm formation between the isolates was observed. Selected isolates, in both planktonic and biofilm states, were tested for resistance/tolerance to a commonly used disinfectant (peracetic acid-based) and antibiotic florfenicol. Most isolates showed a much higher tolerance in the biofilm state than in the planktonic state. In a multi-species biofilm experiment with five <i>Pseudomonas</i> strains with and without a <i>Listeria monocytogenes</i> strain, the <i>Pseudomonas</i> biofilm appeared to aid the survival of <i>L. monocytogenes</i> cells after disinfection, underscoring the importance of controlling the bacterial load in food-processing environments.
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