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Test methods for estimating the efficacy of the fast‐acting disinfectant peracetic acid on surfaces of personal protective equipment
Author(s) -
Lemmer K.,
Howaldt S.,
Heinrich R.,
Roder A.,
Pauli G.,
Dorner B.G.,
Pauly D.,
Mielke M.,
Schwebke I.,
Grunow R.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.13575
Subject(s) - peracetic acid , disinfectant , microbiology and biotechnology , chemistry , test (biology) , pulp and paper industry , chromatography , biology , biochemistry , engineering , hydrogen peroxide , organic chemistry , paleontology
Aims The work aimed at developing and evaluating practically relevant methods for testing of disinfectants on contaminated personal protective equipment ( PPE ). Methods and Results Carriers were prepared from PPE fabrics and contaminated with Bacillus subtilis spores. Peracetic acid ( PAA ) was applied as a suitable disinfectant. In method 1, the contaminated carrier was submerged in PAA solution; in method 2, the contaminated area was covered with PAA ; and in method 3, PAA , preferentially combined with a surfactant, was dispersed as a thin layer. In each method, 0·5–1% PAA reduced the viability of spores by a factor of ≥6 log 10 within 3 min. The technique of the most realistic method 3 proved to be effective at low temperatures and also with a high organic load. Vaccinia virus and Adenovirus were inactivated with 0·05–0·1% PAA by up to ≥6 log 10 within 1 min. The cytotoxicity of ricin was considerably reduced by 2% PAA within 15 min of exposure. Conclusions PAA /detergent mixture enabled to cover hydrophobic PPE surfaces with a thin and yet effective disinfectant layer. Significance and Impact of the Study The test methods are objective tools for estimating the biocidal efficacy of disinfectants on hydrophobic flexible surfaces.