Surface Decontamination in an Autoclave Chamber with Formaldehyde Gas

Sweet, Haven C.

doi:10.1128/aem.22.2.250-251.1971

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 2 publications

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“…As with previous studies (Braswell et al. 1970; Hoffman and Spiner 1970; Spiner and Hoffman 1971; Sweet 1971; Ackland et al. 1980; Canter et al.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

“…These results suggest that when using the decontamination parameters outlined in this study, material porosity did not appear to affect decontamination efficacy of formaldehyde gas. As with previous studies (Braswell et al 1970;Hoffman and Spiner 1970;Spiner and Hoffman 1971;Sweet 1971;Ackland et al 1980;Canter et al 2005), a similar starting paraformaldehyde concentration (10AE5 g per cubic meter) was used in this study to yield a theoretical vapor phase concentration of approx. 8500 ppm formaldehyde gas in the decontamination chamber.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Decontamination with aqueous and gaseous formaldehyde has been used for many years in laboratory, medical, and industrial settings (Sweet 1971;Fink et al 1988;Cross and Lach 1990;Lach 1990). On a large scale, formaldehyde was used to decontaminate Gruinard Island, Scotland, after the British military conducted explosives testing with Bacillus anthracis spores during World War II (Inglesby et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Decontamination with aqueous and gaseous formaldehyde has been used for many years in laboratory, medical, and industrial settings (Sweet 1971; Fink et al. 1988; Cross and Lach 1990; Lach 1990).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Formaldehyde gas inactivation ofBacillus anthracis,Bacillus subtilis, andGeobacillus stearothermophilusspores on indoor surface materials

Rogers

Choi

Richter

et al. 2007

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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Aims: To evaluate the decontamination of Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus subtilis, and Geobacillus stearothermophilus spores on indoor surface materials using formaldehyde gas. Methods and Results: B. anthracis, B. subtilis, and G. stearothermophilus spores were dried on seven types of indoor surfaces and exposed to approx. 1100 ppm formaldehyde gas for 10 h. Formaldehyde exposure significantly decreased viable B. anthracis, B. subtilis, and G. stearothermophilus spores on all test materials. Significant differences were observed when comparing the reduction in viable spores of B. anthracis with B. subtilis (galvanized metal and painted wallboard paper) and G. stearothermophilus (industrial carpet and painted wallboard paper). Formaldehyde gas inactivated ≥50% of the biological indicators and spore strips (approx. 1 × 106 CFU) when analyzed after 1 and 7 days. Conclusions: Formaldehyde gas significantly reduced the number of viable spores on both porous and nonporous materials in which the two surrogates exhibited similar log reductions to that of B. anthracis on most test materials. Significance and Impact of the Study: These results provide new comparative information for the decontamination of B. anthracis spores with surrogates on indoor surfaces using formaldehyde gas.

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“…As with previous studies (Braswell et al. 1970; Hoffman and Spiner 1970; Spiner and Hoffman 1971; Sweet 1971; Ackland et al. 1980; Canter et al.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 65%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Formaldehyde gas inactivation ofBacillus anthracis,Bacillus subtilis, andGeobacillus stearothermophilusspores on indoor surface materials

Rogers

Choi

Richter

et al. 2007

Journal of Applied Microbiology

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“…Although not often used with plants, 5% solutions of formalin or phenol were effective decontaminators after 10-and 15-min contact times, respectively (Kruse et al, 1964). Application of either ethylene oxide (850 mg/l) (Ernst and Doyle, 1968) or formaldehyde gas (10.6 mg/l) for 4-6 hr (Sweet, 1971) is effective with surfaces which are hard to wet.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The Surface Decontamination of Seeds to Produce Axenic Seedlings

Sweet

Bolton

1979

American J of Botany

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A variety of sterilizing agents were tested to develop a standard procedure for surface decontaminating seeds to produce axenic seedlings. The use of calcium hypochlorite (0.5% phosphate buffer, pH 6) for 10 min followed by three sterile water rinses was among the most effective agents, and it did not injure some species as did sodium hypochlorite, formaldehyde, ethylene oxide and mercuric chloride. Some species contained internal microbes requiring severe treatments which killed or injured the seedling, while other species were “decontaminated” with a sterile water rinse. The percentage of seeds with internal microbes varied considerably among plant species, seed lot, and the length of seed storage. Thus, with seeds not easily decontaminated, screening of additional seed lots would be more profitable than testing additional decontamination agents. Release of microbes from the seed's interior is associated with germination, and microbial testing must last at least 11 days. Nutrient agar permitted growth, although the seedlings outgrew petri plates too quickly for adequate certification. These seedlings were transferred to nutrient agar in quart jars in which an internal pool of broth was periodically agitated to permit microbial sampling of the leaves while the plant grew.

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Bacillus AnthracisSpore Inactivation by Fumigant Decontamination

et al. 2008

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In 2001, envelopes containing virulent Bacillus anthracis spores were placed into the U.S. mail, resulting in contamination of mail processing and distribution facilities and office buildings. These spore-contaminated facilities were subsequently decontaminated primarily by fumigation with hydrogen peroxide, chlorine dioxide, and formaldehyde. These highly-publicized incidents resulted in increased public awareness of the threat to human health posed by Bacillus anthracis, and increased interest in sampling, detection, and decontamination of indoor surfaces, rooms, and buildings. Fumigants offer advantages over liquid application for decontaminating rooms or buildings due to the increased coverage of large surface areas and ease of cleanup. From 2001 to the present, however, no decontamination technology has been registered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for use against B. anthracis spores; rather, decontamination has been performed through the EPA's issuance of Crisis Exemptions. Since 2001, research and testing efforts have assessed the efficacy and maturity of sporicidal fumigants as well as the maturity, chemical toxicity, material compatibility, and ventilation requirements of these technologies. Several studies have been published in the scientific literature regarding fumigant inactivation of Bacillus spores; however, most decontamination studies with fumigants have utilized surrogates for B. anthracis surrogates, which can be more resistant to a specific type of fumigant (e.g., Geobacillus stearothermophilus and vaporous hydrogen peroxide) than virulent B. anthracis. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge available in the open scientific literature describing the inactivation of virulent B. anthracis spores by various fumigating agents with respect to key operational variables that can affect fumigant decontamination efficacy, such as fumigant concentration, contact time, operational temperature, and relative humidity.

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Surface Decontamination in an Autoclave Chamber with Formaldehyde Gas

Abstract: A simple device for the conversion of a standard steam autoclave into a formaldehyde gas sterilization chamber is described.

Cited by 3 publications

References 2 publications

Formaldehyde gas inactivation ofBacillus anthracis,Bacillus subtilis, andGeobacillus stearothermophilusspores on indoor surface materials

Formaldehyde gas inactivation ofBacillus anthracis,Bacillus subtilis, andGeobacillus stearothermophilusspores on indoor surface materials

The Surface Decontamination of Seeds to Produce Axenic Seedlings

Bacillus AnthracisSpore Inactivation by Fumigant Decontamination

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