essential oil limit the biofilm formation of and on polystyrene in a temperature-dependent manner.

Formation of biofilms allows bacterial cells to survive in adverse environments. Nontuberculous mycobacteria are ubiquitous in aqueous environments, where they adhere to surfaces and create a biofilm. This has led to the emergence of healthcare-associated infections and the use of biomaterials in medicine. Essential oils (EO) are substances of natural origin whose effect on microorganisms has been the subject of numerous studies. Here, we investigated the effect of EO on nontuberculous mycobacteria and their early and mature biofilm formation in sterilised tap water. The combination of EO and increasing ambient temperature showed a synergistic effect on the reduction of biofilm formation of and on a polystyrene surface. A significant antibiofilm effect of EO was also found at subinhibitory concentrations, suggesting a potential role for it as an alternative disinfectant of natural water.