Biofilm Promotes Streptococcal Survival in the Environment

Although person-to-person transmission of Streptococcus pyogenes and Streptococcus pneumoniae has long been recognized, transmission from contaminated environmental surfaces is not well defined. Recent work showing that biofilms enhance microbial survival in the environment led investigators in New York to explore whether biofilms could contribute to fomite transmission of streptococci. Their experiments involved two strains of S. pneumoniae and two of group A streptococci (S. pyogenes strain JRS4 [a streptomycin-resistant derivative of a clinical M6 isolate] and an M3 clinical isolate).

In initial experiments, the investigators found that pneumococcal cells grown in broth media survived drying on a plastic surface for <3 days, whereas cells…