Aerosolized disinfectant use has appealing qualities for inactivation and remediation of biologically contaminated materials. Their ability to reach exterior and interior spaces of walls and difficult to access areas has potential as a simple and cost effective remediation technique. Stachybotrys chartarum was used as a test organism against four disinfectants: chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, thiabendazole, and cupric sulfate – sodium hydroxide solution. Tests were conducted independently. The organism was exposed for 4 and 8 h periods to the aerosolized disinfectant. The building material was commercially available gypsum board with paper facing. This material was inoculated under sterile conditions. The commercially available treatments were administered as aerosols generated from a collison nebulizer directed into a sterile growth chamber housing inoculated gypsum board. Surface samples were collected before and after exposures to determine treatment effects. The aerosolized chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite treatments successfully inactivated the organism after 8 h of continuous exposure. Key words: Stachybotrys chartarum, aerosolized disinfectant, gypsum board, fungi.
The ability of aerosolized disinfectant agents to reach exterior and interior spaces of walls and other difficult to access areas has potential as a remediation technique for contained biological contamination. Bacillus subtilis were evaluated against aerosolized solutions of distilled water (dH 2 O, control), 0.05% chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ), and 0.6% sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Bacillus subtilis endospores were inoculated onto commercially available gypsum board with paper facing. Aerosols generated from a collison nebulizer were directed into a sterile contact chamber housing the inoculated gypsum board for 4, 8, and 12 hour periods. Independent evaluations were conducted of the gypsum board where the organism B. subtilis were exposed to the aerosolized disinfectant. Treatment effects were evaluated through the collection of surface samples before and after exposures. The aerosolized 0.6% sodium hypochlorite solution was the only treatment successful in reducing the total concentration of B. subtilis. Treatment with sodium hypochlorite solution reduced B. subtilis organisms by 1.55-log after 4 h, 1.92-log after 8 h, and 2.50-log after 12 h of exposure, though the difference in log-reduction between exposure periods were not statistically significant.Résumé : La capacité des désinfectants vaporisés à atteindre les surfaces extérieures et intérieures des murs et d'autres zones difficiles d'accès leur confère le potentiel de remédier à une contamination biologique en milieu fermé. Bacillus subtilis a été évalué contre diverses solutions vaporisées d'eau distillée (contrôle), de dioxyde de chlore à 0,05 % (ClO2), et d'hypochlorure de sodium à 0,6 % (NaOCl). Les endospores de B. subtilis ont été inoculés sur des plaques de plâtre cartonnées disponibles sur le marché. Les aérosols générés par un nébuliseur Collison ont été dirigés dans une salle de contact stérile comprenant les plaques de plâtre cartonnées inoculées pour des durées de quatre, huit et douze heures. Des évaluations indépendantes ont été réalisées sur les plaques de plâtre cartonnées où B. subtilis a été exposé au désinfectant vaporisé. Les effets des traitements ont été évalués par la collecte d'échantillons de surface avant et après les expositions. La solution vaporisée d'hypochlorure de sodium à 0,6 % a été le seul traitement ayant réussi à réduire la concentration totale de B. subtilis. Le traitement avec la solution vaporisée d'hypochlorure de sodium a réduit les organismes B. subtilis de 1,55log après 4 heures, de 1,92log après 8 heures et de 2,50log après 12 heures d'exposition, bien que la différence dans la réduction logarithmique entre les périodes d'exposition n'était pas significative statistiquement. Mots-clés : Bacillus subtilis, désinfectant vaporisé, plaque de plâtre cartonnée.[Traduit par la Rédaction]
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