Evaluation of a New Bactericidal Spray Effective against Staphylococcus aureus

A new germicidal spray consisting of an active ingredient, 2-chloro-4-phenylphenol, solvent, and propellant was evaluated against aerosols ofStaphylococcus aureus and spores ofBacillus subtilis . The method of evaluation consisted of determining the decay rate of the bacterial aerosols in a small chamber, with and without the aerial germicide present. The method is unique in that the effect of very short exposures of airborne bacteria to aerial germicides can be measured accurately. By use of the method outlined, extremely potent aerial germicides may be evaluated against highly sensitive organisms. The 2-chloro-4-phenylphenol spray was found to be extremely effective againstS. aureus but only moderately effective against spores ofB. subtilis .