title: In vitro testing of fungicidal activity of biocides against Aspergillus fumigatus.
abstract: The activity of biocides against Aspergillus fumigatus is unknown. In the European guidelines to evaluate the fungicidal activity of a biocide, the critical step concerning the preparation of conidial suspensions is cumbersome and time-consuming. The aims of this study were to evaluate a simplified procedure to prepare conidial suspensions to test a biocide in comparison with the recommended one and to investigate the in vitro activity of seven biocides by the suspension neutralization method against A. fumigatus clinical isolates. The proposed simplified procedure proved reproducible, gave the same results and was quicker than that described in the European guidelines. Benzalkonium chloride (0.25 %), glutaraldehyde (1.6 %), polyvinylpyrrolidone iodine (1 % available iodine) and polyester glycol iodine (0.18 % available iodine) showed biocidal activity in <or=5 min contact time, and chlorine (0.14 % available Cl) and chlorhexidine (0.06 %) after 15 min and 30-60 min, respectively. In contrast, chloramine-T (0.01 %) did not show biocidal activity. In addition, a simplified and reproducible procedure may be used for testing the fungicidal activity of new compounds or combined formulations. In conclusion, the biocides tested, which are commonly used in hospital settings, were shown to display biocidal activity against A. fumigatus and a simplified procedure may be adopted for testing the fungicidal activity of new compounds.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy 2Laboratoire 'Interactions Cellulaires Parasites-Hôte', Université J. Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Anna Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Tortorano
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy 2Laboratoire 'Interactions Cellulaires Parasites-Hôte', Université J. Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Maria Anna
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Viviani
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy 2Laboratoire 'Interactions Cellulaires Parasites-Hôte', Université J. Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biraghi
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy 2Laboratoire 'Interactions Cellulaires Parasites-Hôte', Université J. Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Anna Lisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rigoni
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy 2Laboratoire 'Interactions Cellulaires Parasites-Hôte', Université J. Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Prigitano
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy 2Laboratoire 'Interactions Cellulaires Parasites-Hôte', Université J. Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors.forename: Reée
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grillot
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, Università degli Studi di Milano - IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore, via F. Sforza 35, 20122 Milano, Italy 2Laboratoire 'Interactions Cellulaires Parasites-Hôte', Université J. Fourier, Grenoble, France.
authors.lastname: And The Ebga Network
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000382:microbiology; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D002700:Chloramines / Q000494:pharmacology; D002710:Chlorhexidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002713:Chlorine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005976:Glutaral / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods*; D011091:Polyesters / Q000494:pharmacology; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D013172:Spores, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014105:Tosyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D002700:Chloramines; D004202:Disinfectants; D011091:Polyesters; D014105:Tosyl Compounds; C016300:chloramine-T; D002713:Chlorine; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D005976:Glutaral