Cleaning and disinfection is core to the control of many diseases on the pig farm. However, pressure-washing alone will often leave a thin layer of biofilm on the surface despite vigorous jets, points out ACMC veterinary consultant, Paul Thompson.
Many bacteria can survive disinfection in the biofilm — best visualised like the slime that can be felt on stones in mountain streams, which persists despite the very high flow rates!
The use of a detergent in the wash phase disrupts the biofilm and therefore enhances the effectiveness of the disinfectant phase.
