processes Article Biofilm Degradation of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Formed on Stainless Steel Following Treatment with Immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) and Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) Essential Oils Dolores Peruˇc 1,* , Dalibor Brozni´c 2 , Željka Maglica 3, Zvonimir Marijanovi´c 4, Ljerka Karleuša 5 and Ivana Gobin 1 1 Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
[email protected] 2 Department of Medical Chemistry, Biochemistry and Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
[email protected] 3 Department of Biotechnology, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
[email protected] 4 Department of Food Technology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemistry and Technology, University of Split, 21000 Split, Croatia;
[email protected] 5 Department of Physiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Rijeka, 51000 Rijeka, Croatia;
[email protected] * Correspondence:
[email protected]; Tel.: +385-(0)51-651-145; Fax: +385-(0)51-651-177 Abstract: Nontuberculous mycobacteria, like other opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens, pro- duce resistant biofilms on various surfaces in the plumbing system including pipes, tanks, and fittings. Citation: Peruˇc,D.; Brozni´c,D.; Since standard methods of water disinfection are ineffective in eradicating biofilms, research into new Maglica, Ž.; Marijanovi´c,Z.; Karleuša, agents is necessary. Essential oils (EOs) have great potential as anti-biofilm agents. Therefore, the pur- L.; Gobin, I. Biofilm Degradation of pose of this research was to investigate the potential anti-biofilm effect of common juniper (Juniperus Nontuberculous Mycobacteria communis) and immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) EOs. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), Formed on Stainless Steel Following Treatment with Immortelle minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and minimum effective concentrations of EOs on My- (Helichrysum italicum) and Common cobacterium avium, M.