The Hormetic Effect Observed for Benzalkonium Chloride and Didecyldimethylammonium Chloride in sp. HRI.

Hormesis, or the hormetic effect, is a dose- or concentration-dependent response characterised by growth stimulation at low concentrations and inhibition at high concentrations. The impact of sub-lethal levels of disinfectants on the growth of species is critical to understanding the increasing number of outbreaks caused by this pathogen in healthcare settings. sp. HRI and ATCC 13880 were cultivated in sub-lethal levels of benzalkonium chloride (BAC), Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC), and Virukill. The maximum specific growth rates, doubling times, and cell counts were compared. The results revealed significant increases in maximum specific growth rates and shorter doubling times for sp. HRI when cultivated in sub-lethal levels of BAC and DDAC. The significant stimulatory effect of sub-lethal levels of these disinfectants for sp. HRI represents the first time hormesis has been observed in a Gram-negative bacterium for any disinfectant. Furthermore, this study is the first to observe the hormetic effect after treatment with DDAC and the second study to date analysing the impact of sub-lethal levels of disinfectants on the growth of bacterial species.