The effect of interfering substances on the disinfection process: a mathematical model

AIMS: To gain a greater understanding of the effect of interfering substances on the efficacy of disinfection. METHODS AND RESULTS: Current kinetic disinfection models were augmented by a term designed to quantify the deleterious effect of soils such as milk on the disinfection process of suspended organisms. The model was based on the assumption that inactivation by added soil occurred at a much faster rate than microbial inactivation. The new model, the fat-soil model, was also able to quantify the effect of changing the initial inoculum size (1 x 10(7)-5 x 10(7) ml(-1) of Staphylococcus aureus) on the outcome of the suspension tests. Addition of catalase to the disinfection of Escherichia coli by hydrogen peroxide, resulted in changes to the shape of the log survivor/time plots. These changes were modelled on the basis of changing biocide concentration commensurate with microbial inactivation. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in efficacy of a disinfectant in the presence of an interfering substance can be quantified through the use of adaptations to current disinfection models. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Understanding the effect of soil on disinfection efficacy allows us to understand the limitations of disinfectants and disinfection procedures. It also gives us a mechanism with which to investigate the soil tolerance of new biocides and formulations.     

On the disinfection of catheters,cystoscopes, bronchoscopes and similar instruments by means of a mixture of ethylene oxide and carbon dioxide

Summary An apparatus and a method are described for a simple and reliable disinfection of catheters, cystoscopes, bronchoscopes, etc. by means of a gas mixture consisting of 10% ethylene oxide and 90% carbon dioxide. The air is evacuated by suction from a disinfection vessel containing the instruments and replaced by the ethylene oxide-carbon dioxide mixture, which must be allowed to act for 8 hours at 37°C. After disinfection, the instruments which have previously been packed in cellophane bags can be stored and transported sterile for a considerable period. Bacterial spores with a resistance of 5 minutes at 100°C. are killed by this method, which has no damaging effect on the instruments.     

Effects of chemically and electrochemically dosed chlorine on Escherichia coli and Legionella beliardensis assessed by flow cytometry

The present study reports the disinfection effects of chemically and electrochemically dosed chlorine on two models for typical water-borne bacteria (Escherichia coli and Legionella beliardensis) by plating and flow cytometry (FCM) in combination with different fluorescence dyes. The residual effect on various cell functions, including cultivability, esterase activity, membrane polarization, and integrity, was tested at different free chlorine concentrations. In comparison, chemical disinfection yielded on average 60% more E. coli cells entering the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state than electrochemical disinfection. Here, VBNC is defined as those cells with intact cell membrane but which cannot be cultured on solid nutrient agar plates. L. beliardensis was about five times more resistant to chlorine disinfection than E. coli. The results also suggested the two methods result in different disinfection mechanisms on L. beliardensis, i.e., chemically dosed chlorine targeted cell membrane integrity before enzyme activity, while electrochemically dosed chlorine acted the other way round. In addition, both bacteria lost the integrity of their cell membranes at three times lower chlorine concentration over a longer contact time (i.e., 40 vs. 10 min) by the chemical method. Our results showed that FCM is an appropriate tool to evaluate the effects of water disinfection and the percentage of cells in VBNC in a matter of hours. Electrochemical disinfection is suggested to be a favorable alternative for chemical disinfection.     

某新型冠状病毒肺炎定点医院病区终末消毒控制措施及效果监测

摘要 目的：了解新型冠状病毒（以下简称"新冠"）肺炎定点医院病区终末消毒控制措施并监测其消毒效果。方法：对中山大学附属第五医院隔离病区实施终末消毒，并对终末消毒前后空气和物表进行采样检测及终末消毒后环境进行采样检测，评估消毒效果。结果：对14个隔离病区开展了终末消毒，终末消毒前后均采集空气沉降菌样品156份、物表样品254份，终末消毒后采集环境核酸样品209份进行消毒效果评价。各隔离病区经终末消毒后空气消毒效果合格率均为100.00%，高于终末消毒前空气消毒效果合格率76.20%（P<0.05）；终末消毒后物表消毒效果为94.88%，高于终末消毒前物表消毒效果合格率71.65%（P<0.05）；终末消毒后环境核酸检测结果均为阴性。结论：中山大学附属第五医院各隔离病区经终末消毒后各项指标均符合终末消毒评价要求。     

阴道消毒治疗护理器的临床应用

目的:探讨妇科手术后病人的阴道护理的新方法、新手段,旨在提高临床疗效。方法:随机选取398例妇科手术后的病人做常规会阴护理,对其中172例使用阴道消毒治疗器做阴道护理。结果:试验组的172例术后病人在尿路感染率、阴道炎、宫颈炎、息肉发生率明显低于常规组。结论:妇科手术后病人在应用新式阴道消毒治疗器后,不但能弥补传统阴道护理方法的不足,还明显扩大了会阴护理的消毒范围,减少妇科手术后阴道、尿道逆行感染的发生率,有效的提高临床疗效。新式阴道消毒护理器应是目前临床应用中的较理想的护理方法和手段。     

Comparison of Riboflavin and Toluidine Blue O as Photosensitizers for Photoactivated Disinfection on Endodontic and Periodontal Pathogens In Vitro

Photoactivated disinfection has a strong local antimicrobial effect. In the field of dentistry it is an emerging adjunct to mechanical debridement during endodontic and periodontal treatment. In the present study, we investigate the effect of photoactivated disinfection using riboflavin as a photosensitizer and blue LED light for activation, and compare it to photoactivated disinfection with the widely used combination of toluidine blue O and red light. Riboflavin is highly biocompatible and can be activated with LED lamps at hand in the dental office. To date, no reports are available on the antimicrobial effect of photoactivated disinfection using riboflavin/blue light on oral microorganisms. Planktonic cultures of eight organisms frequently isolated from periodontal and/or endodontic lesions (Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherischia coli, Lactobacillus paracasei, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia and Propionibacterium acnes) were subjected to photoactivated disinfection with riboflavin/blue light and toluidine blue O/red light, and survival rates were determined by CFU counts. Within the limited irradiation time of one minute, photoactivated disinfection with riboflavin/blue light only resulted in minor reductions in CFU counts, whereas full kills were achieved for all organisms when using toluidine blue O/red light. The black pigmented anaerobes P. gingivalis and P. intermedia were eradicated completely by riboflavin/blue light, but also by blue light treatment alone, suggesting that endogenous chromophores acted as photosensitizers in these bacteria. On the basis of our results, riboflavin cannot be recommended as a photosensitizer used for photoactivated disinfection of periodontal or endodontic infections.     

Disinfection and hygiene in the veterinary field and disinfection of animal houses and transport vehicles

Disinfection in animal houses means always a combination between cleaning and disinfection because the high amount of organic material present in such an environment will neutralize rapidly each disinfectant brought to the surface if no cleaning step had been done before. Depending on the kind of material, cleaning gives a 3 log reduction of total bacterial count on the surface and disinfection another 3 log reduction. This means that under practical conditions generally 10³ cfu of bacteria remain per cm² of surface, mostly sporeformers. The choice of disinfectant depends on the purpose of disinfection. In the case of notifiable diseases, it must be active against a defined pathogen. In the case of prophylactic disinfection, it must be active against a broad spectrum of microorganisms.Only disinfectants which are tested for their activity on surfaces which are representative for animal houses e.g. wood should be used, otherwise the failure under practical conditions can be predicted and work, as well as money, will be wasted. The optimal temperature for the liquids used in cleaning and disinfection is 40°C and the optimal temperature of surfaces is 20°C. Colder surfaces require higher concentrations of active substances in the solution, below 10°C the effect of practical disinfection is incomplete. Low air humidity and high air velocity have a negative influence on the action of most disinfectants on surfaces. The amount of disinfectant necessary to disinfect a surface in an animal house is at least 0.4 l/m². Transport vehicles are very difficult to disinfect, especially in winter-time. They should be cleaned with hot water, the remaining liquid should be removed by a suitable vacuum cleaner and the concentration of the disinfectant should be elevated at least for the factor 3. Mechanic action will improve the disinfecting effect in vehicles as well as preliminary disinfection prior cleaning.     

Thermal composting of faecal matter as treatment and possible disinfection method--laboratory-scale and pilot-scale studies

When using toilets where the urine and faeces are collected separately for reuse as nutrients in agriculture, the collected matter should be disinfected. One way to do this is by thermal composting. Composting of different material mixes was investigated in a laboratory-scale experiment. This showed that the best mixture for dry thermal composting was a mix of faeces, food waste and amendment. The urine was collected separately by use of urine-diverting toilets. A new method was developed to mathematically evaluate and estimate the safety margins of pathogen inactivation during thermal composting. The method is based upon a mathematical calculation of the number of times total inactivation (at least 12log(10) reduction) of the organisms is achieved. In a pilot-scale experiment, the disinfection of a faeces/food waste mix was performed with a calculated safety margin of more than 37 times the total die-off of Enteroviruses and some 550 times that of Ascaris. Thus, well functioning composting seems to be effective for disinfection of faecal matter. To get a high temperature in all of the material, the reactor has to have sufficient insulation. A major disadvantage is the initial need for handling the raw un-disinfected material. The degradation of the organic matter in the compost was almost 75%, resulting in a small final volume that could safely be recycled.     

About a new biophysical approach to total vaccination of humans and animals

Biophysics - A new method of total nonspecific vaccination of humans and animals is presented, based on the experience of practical use of a powerful light pulse for air disinfection in laboratory...     

About a new biophysical approach for total vaccination of humans and animals

The new method of total nonspecific vaccination of humans and animals is presented based on the experience of practical use of a powerful light pulse for air disinfection in laboratory facilities.     

The effect of various environmental factors on the ethidium monazite and quantitative PCR method to detect viable bacteria

Aims: Ethidium monoazide in combination with quantitative PCR (EMA–qPCR) has been considered as a promising method to enumerate viable cells; however, its efficacy can be significantly affected by disinfection conditions and various environments. In this study, thermal disinfection, osmotic pressure and acids with different pH values were systematically investigated to achieve the optimum conditions. Methods and Results: EMA treatment of pure cultures at low concentration (10 μg ml^?1) for 20 min resulted in effective differentiation between viable and nonviable bacteria and had no effect on viable cells. Heating at 85°C for 35 min was the optimum condition that yields inactivated Escherichia coli (E. coli) cells that were not detected with EMA–qPCR. Performing EMA treatment in high‐salt ion environment (sodium chloride concentration ≥4%) could weaken EMA inhibition effect. Both strong and weak acid solutions could react with EMA, change its absorption spectra and influence EMA inhibition effect. Because of the sublethal acidification injury, underestimation of cell counts were found using EMA–qPCR method, and 40‐min incubation in Luria–Bertani medium could completely offset this error. Conclusion: Our results provided optimum EMA treatment, thermal disinfection and environment conditions for EMA–qPCR and demonstrated the feasibility of this method when enumerating viable cells under varied osmotic pressure and pH environment. Significance and Impact of the Study: Optimum EMA treatment, thermal disinfection and EMA‐treated environment will be successfully applied in EMA–qPCR. Osmotic pressure and acid‐induced injury can be detected by EMA–qPCR with optimization.     

Effectiveness of dry heat as a seed sterilisation technique: Implications for ex situ conservation

Seed-borne pathogens are a daily issue for ex situ collection managers who try to solve it using various chemicals more or less harmful to the staff and the plant material stored. The most common physical method for seed sterilisation is moist heat, in contrast to dry heat which is used much less frequently. Consequently, the efficiency of dry heat as disinfection method and the behaviour of seeds undergoing this treatment are currently poorly known, especially for wild species. In this study, seed viability was estimated by performing germination tests according to standard procedures. Germination tests were conducted on 13,200 seeds from 66 wild species of temperate regions belonging to 22 different families. Results indicate that dry seeds exposed to 60°C during 1hour were less infected by seed-borne pathogens in 14% of the cases, whereas no change has been registered in the other cases. For all 66 studied species, no decrease in germination percentage was detected after the heat treatment. Given its positive effect on infection control without affecting seed viability, dry heat treatment as proposed here opens opportunities for seed bank managers, but also for the disinfection of herbarium collections.     

消毒、伴生和微生物菌对连作基质性质及黄瓜生长发育的影响

以连续种植2茬的连作基质为对象,采用室内盆栽试验,设置连作基质太阳能消毒、热水消毒、多菌灵消毒、大蒜伴生栽培和施入微生物菌处理以及新基质对照,在种植黄瓜后观测基质理化性质、养分含量、酚类物质含量、相关酶活性的变化以及黄瓜结果期生长发育、光合作用和果实产量的变化,探究不同处理对连作基质栽培黄瓜生长发育影响的机制,以期在生产上为废旧基质重复利用提供新的思路和方法。结果表明:在连作基质栽培黄瓜后,太阳能消毒和热水消毒处理均能显著提高连作基质的pH,同时降低电导率;施入微生物菌处理的基质EC值、速效氮、速效磷、速效钾和总酚含量均显著低于连作基质,而其基质磷酸酶活性和过氧化氢酶活性显著高于连作基质。热水消毒还显著降低连作基质的总酚含量和复合态酚含量。黄瓜生长至结果期,太阳能消毒、热水消毒、多菌灵消毒、大蒜伴生栽培和施入微生物菌均显著增强黄瓜的根系活力和株高;其中热水消毒和施入微生物菌处理的产量增加最为显著,分别比连作基质栽培提高了16.56%和18.40%。可见,连作基质进行热水消毒处理和施入微生物菌处理均能降低基质盐分积累,减少总酚含量,进而显著提高黄瓜的根系活力和光合作用,从而增加产量。     

Disinfection of wooden structures contaminated with Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae spores

AIMS: The aim of the study is to examine the disinfection of wood contaminated with Paenibacillus larvae subsp. larvae spores, in order to find a practical decontamination method for hive materials. METHODS AND RESULTS: The number of viable spores recovered after the treatment, on the surface by swabbing, and in the deeper parts of the wood by scraping, was used to test the efficiency of the disinfection. Our results indicate that chemical disinfection is only complete when high concentrations (> 50%) of the disinfectant are used. Heat treatment in general was found to be very effective. The scorching of wood was not satisfactory as it only killed spores at the surface. CONCLUSION: Complete disinfection is only possible with some heat treatments or by using high concentrations of chemical disinfectants. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study puts forward some methods that can provide complete decontamination, which is necessary for an effective control of American foulbrood disease.     

A Comparative Study of the Bactericidal Activity and Daily Disinfection Housekeeping Surfaces by a New Portable Pulsed UV Radiation Device

Daily cleaning and disinfecting of non-critical surfaces in the patient-care areas are known to reduce the occurrence of health care-associated infections. However, the conventional means for decontamination of housekeeping surfaces of sites of frequent hand contact such as manual disinfection using ethanol wipes are laborious and time-consuming in daily practice. This study evaluated a newly developed portable pulsed ultraviolet (UV) radiation device for its bactericidal activity in comparison with continuous UV-C, and investigated its effect on the labor burden when implemented in a hospital ward. Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Acinetobacter baumannii, Amikacin and Ciprofloxacin-resistant A. baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, Methicillin-resistant S. aureus and Bacillus cereus were irradiated with pulsed UV or continuous UV-C. Pulsed UV and continuous UV-C required 5 and 30 s of irradiation, respectively, to attain bactericidal activity with more than 2Log growth inhibition of all the species. The use of pulsed UV in daily disinfection of housekeeping surfaces reduced the working hours by half in comparison to manual disinfection using ethanol wipes. The new portable pulsed UV radiation device was proven to have a bactericidal activity against critical nosocomial bacteria, including antimicrobial-resistant bacteria after short irradiation, and was thus found to be practical as a method for disinfecting housekeeping surfaces and decreasing the labor burden.     

超声波对感染根管消毒作用的实验研究

目的:通过与氢氧化钙药尖消毒作用的比较,验证超声波对感染根管的消毒作用并判断其消毒作用的临床应用价值。方法:10只3月龄的小型健康实验家兔随机分成二组后,制备成感染根管动物模型。对模型进行术前细菌培养后,分别做超声根管内消毒和氢氧化钙药尖消毒,术后细菌培养。结果:超声波和氢氧化钙对需氧菌和厌氧菌的杀灭作用无菌种之间的差别;但杀菌效果存在显著差异。实验发现超声波消毒的特点是:第一,无抗菌谱的差异。第二,无热效应,根管壁表面升温不明显。第三,作用无方向性,对任何角度方向上的有机物均能使其失活。第四,越是细小根管作用越强。这些正是根管消毒所要求的特殊条件。结论:1)超声波对感染根管的消毒作用明显优于氢氧化钙药尖。2)超声波对感染根管的消毒作用无抗菌谱的差异。3)超声波对感染根管具有较可靠的消毒作用,作为一种根管消毒手段值得进一步研究。     

Advances in disinfection testing and modelling

AIMS: To develop a set of kinetic equations which more ably describe the disinfection process. METHODS AND RESULTS: A group of functions, the fat equations, based on the model used for the quantification of microbial inhibition, was produced. These functions introduce a limit to the numbers of micro-organisms capable of being disinfected. These new expressions were shown to be more general forms of currently-used (e.g. log-linear) disinfection models, and accommodate the lags and/or tails of non-linear log-survivor--time plots. An advance in the experimental procedures used to obtain disinfection data, using an optical density technique, was developed concomitantly. CONCLUSION: The methods of analyses (experimental and modelling) allow the researcher to examine, more ably, five-minute disinfection (or specific time disinfection tests) as well as the more important disinfection rate analyses. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The fat equations are an improvement over commonly-used rate models of disinfection, which are shown to be special cases of these equations. This raises the question as to whether our current understanding of the kinetic basis of disinfection requires revision.     

Antimicrobial effect of radiant catalytic ionization

The main purpose of micro-organisms elimination from the air and surfaces is to ensure microbiological safety in health care facilities or food production plants. Currently, many disinfection methods are used, both physical, chemical and, increasingly, biological. Scientists seek new solutions with high antimicrobial effectiveness (especially against the drug-resistant strains of bacteria), low production and operating costs, and, above all, the safety of patients and food consumers. The limitation of the methods used so far is primarily the micro-organisms acquire the resistance, mainly to antimicrobial agents. One of the new and alternative methods of disinfection is radiant catalytic ionization (RCI). RCI is an active method of air and surface purification. The technology proved high efficiency against viruses, Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, and fungi, both in the air and on surfaces (planktonic forms and biofilm). RCI has many advantages as well as some minor limitations. This overview summarizes the current knowledge about RCI technology.     

Residual disinfection of some preparations and substances.

The results of our experiments over many years point to the possibility of practical application of disinfectants of residual effect. In our opinion, further investigations should be carried out in the following two directions: detection of new means and preparations showing uniform properties and development of an optimum method of their application. We believe that residual disinfection will play a role in the prophylaxis of hospitalism.     

基于功能催化剂的多因子消毒器对微生物气溶胶消毒效果

摘要 目的：利用空气消毒器能有效控制病原微生物在空气中的传播,但催化剂添加及多因子协同消杀的必要性及效果尚不明晰。方法：利用多因子消毒器,以白色葡萄球菌为指示菌,在30 m³标准试验舱开展了臭氧、紫外线、臭氧催化、紫外光催化、HEPA过滤等单一消杀因子及多因子协同消杀气溶胶中微生物的研究。结果：分别添加臭氧催化剂、光催化剂较单一臭氧、紫外线消杀率提高12.9%和11.33%;在多因子消杀中,协同臭氧催化-紫外光催化-HEPA过滤的多因子消杀较单一因子消杀率分别提高10.58%、36.37%、53.67%。此外,随着相对湿度从40%增加至80%,臭氧消杀率提高3.67%,而紫外线消杀率下降6.76%;随着设备风速由1.1 m/s增加到1.9 m/s,臭氧、紫外线、HEPA过滤的消杀率分别提高2.95%、8.08%和46.09%;臭氧发生量由5 g/h提高至10 g/h时,消杀率提高12.87%。结论：催化剂添加及多因子协同能提升消毒器的消杀效率,环境相对湿度、消毒器风速等因素会显著影响消毒器消毒效果。