Evaluation of Sporicidal Disinfectants for the Disinfection of Personal Protective Equipment During Biological Hazards.

A fast, effective, and safe disinfection of personal protective equipment (PPE) is vitally important for emergency forces involved in biological hazards. This study aimed to investigate a broad range of disinfectants to improve the established disinfection procedure. We analyzed the efficacy of chlorine-, peracetic acid-, and oxygen-based disinfectants against spores on PPE.

Development of a novel selective agar for the isolation and detection of Bacillus anthracis.

Aims: The aim of this study was to develop a novel selective agar for the specific isolation and detection of Bacillus anthracis.

Methods And Results: Based on published data on antibiotic resistance and susceptibility of B. anthracis and other closely related species of the Bacillus cereus sensu lato group, a new selective agar formulation termed CEFOMA (Bacillus CEreus sensu lato group-specific antibiotics, FOsfomycin, MAcrolides) was developed and evaluated.

Decontamination of a BSL3 laboratory by hydrogen peroxide fumigation using three different surrogates for Bacillus anthracis spores.

Aims: Two independent trials investigated the decontamination of a BSL3 laboratory using vaporous hydrogen peroxide and compared the effect on spores of Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus thuringiensis as surrogates for Bacillus anthracis spores, while spores of Geobacillus stearothermophilus served as control.

Methods And Results: Carriers containing 1·0 × 10(6) spores were placed at various locations within the laboratory before fumigation with hydrogen peroxide following a previously validated protocol. Afterwards, carriers were monitored by plating out samples on agar and observing enrichment in nutrient medium for up to 14 days.