Figure 5. Viability of Staphylococcus epidermidis cells within biofilms after HHP treatment using increasing levels of pressure.

Pressure levels of 100 MPa, 250 MPa, 400 MPa and 540 MPa were used. S. epidermidis biofilms were grown for 3 days. For HPP treatment, the cells were suspended in 0.9% NaCl (circles and small diamonds) or H₂O (triangles and large squares). CFU: colony forming units as determined by viability counts. The figure shows the results of two representative and independent assays.