Disinfection of Bacillus subtilis spore-contaminated surface materials with a sodium hypochlorite and a hydrogen peroxide-based sanitizer.

AIMS

To evaluate a sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide solution (Ox-B7) as a potential decontaminant of Bacillus subtilis spore-contaminated surface materials (porous and nonporous).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Test materials were contaminated with B. subtilis spores to a final concentration in the range of 5.7-6.6 log CFU cm(-2). Ox-B7 reduced spore counts by 99.999% (5 log) for both porous and nonporous surfaces within a 5-min contact. Treatment with equivalent concentrations of only sodium hypochlorite reduced spore counts by 99% (2 log) on porous materials and by 99.99% (4 log) on nonporous materials. Hydrogen peroxide treatments reduced spores by less than 90% (<1 log) on both porous and nonporous materials when compared with untreated samples.

CONCLUSIONS

A combination of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide (Ox-B7) effectively killed B. subtilis spores on both porous and nonporous surface materials.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The combination of sodium hypochlorite and hydrogen peroxide can be used as an alternative disinfectant of spore-contaminated surface materials, as it is more effective than when hydrogen peroxide or sodium hypochlorite are used separately.