Abstract
Decontamination of bacterial endospores such as Bacillus anthracis has traditionally required the use of harsh or caustic chemicals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a chlorine dioxide decontaminant in killing Bacillus anthracis spores in solution and on a human skin simulant (porcine cadaver skin), compared to that of commonly used sodium hypochlorite or soapy water decontamination procedures. In addition, the relative toxicities of these decontaminants were compared in human skin keratinocyte primary cultures. The chlorine dioxide decontaminant was similarly effective to sodium hypochlorite in reducing spore numbers of Bacillus anthracis Ames in liquid suspension after a 10 minute exposure. After five minutes, the chlorine dioxide product was significantly more efficacious. Decontamination of isolated swine skin contaminated with Bacillus anthracis Sterne with the chlorine dioxide product resulted in no viable spores sampled. The toxicity of the chlorine dioxide decontaminant was up to two orders of magnitude less than that of sodium hypochlorite in human skin keratinocyte cultures. In summary, the chlorine dioxide based decontaminant efficiently killed Bacillus anthracis spores in liquid suspension, as well as on isolated swine skin, and was less toxic than sodium hypochlorite in cultures of human skin keratinocytes.
Highlights
Bacillus endospores are resistant to destruction by measures that are effective in decontaminating most biological agents [1]
After 5 minutes of contact time with the chlorine dioxide product no spores were recovered at the limit of detection
We used two strains of B. anthracis to assess the relative efficacy, and the toxicity of a decontaminant utilizing chlorine dioxide as the active ingredient, compared to sodium hypochlorite commonly used for biological decontamination
Summary
Bacillus endospores are resistant to destruction by measures that are effective in decontaminating most biological agents [1]. Various decontamination approaches have been evaluated for efficacy against Bacillus spores, including B. anthracis, on various surfaces or in suspension [2, 3]. The measures commonly used to kill Bacillus endospores are often associated with harsh environmental conditions such as ultra violet light, wet and dry heat, radiation, or exposure to chemicals [2,3,4,5]. Gaseous forms of methyl bromide, ethylene oxide, chlorine dioxide, formaldehyde and hydrogen peroxide, have been shown to inactivate Bacillus spores [6,7,8].
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