Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2004
Publication Title
Applied and Environmental Microbiology
Volume
70
First page number:
4740
Last page number:
4747
Abstract
The efficacy of currently available decontamination strategies for the treatment of indoor furnishings contaminated with bioterrorism agents is poorly understood. Efficacy testing of decontamination products in a controlled environment is needed to ensure that effective methods are used to decontaminate domestic and workplace settings. An experimental room supplied with materials used in office furnishings (i.e., wood laminate, painted metal, and vinyl tile) was used with controlled dry aerosol releases of endospores of Bacillus atrophaeus (“Bacillus subtilis subsp. niger,” also referred to as BG), a Bacillus anthracis surrogate. Studies were performed using two test products, a foam decontaminant and chlorine dioxide gas. Surface samples were collected pre- and posttreatment with three sampling methods and analyzed by culture and quantitative PCR (QPCR). Additional aerosol releases with environmental background present on the surface materials were also conducted to determine if there was any interference with decontamination or sample analysis. Culture results indicated that 105 to 106 CFU per sample were present on surfaces before decontamination. After decontamination with the foam, no culturable B. atrophaeus spores were detected. After decontamination with chlorine dioxide gas, no culturable B. atrophaeus was detected in 24 of 27 samples (89%). However, QPCR analysis showed that B. atrophaeus DNA was still present after decontamination with both methods. Environmental background material had no apparent effect on decontamination, but inhibition of the QPCR assay was observed. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of two decontamination methods and illustrate the utility of surface sampling and QPCR analysis for the evaluation of decontamination strategies.
Disciplines
Environmental Public Health | Occupational Health and Industrial Hygiene
Publisher Citation
Buttner M.P., P. Cruz, L.D. Stetzenbach, A.K. Klima-Comba, V.L. Stevens, and T.D. Cronin. 2004. Determination of the Efficacy of Two Building Decontamination Strategies by Surface Sampling with Culture and Quantitative PCR Analysis. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 70:4740-4747.
Repository Citation
Buttner, M. P.,
Cruz, P.,
Stetzenbach, L.,
Klima-Comba, A.
(2004).
Determination of the Efficacy of Two Building Decontamination Strategies by Surface Sampling with Culture and Quantitative PCR Analysis.
Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 70
4740-4747.
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/env_occ_health_fac_articles/133