Vapour-phase hydrogen peroxide inactivates Yersinia pestis dried on polymers, steel, and glass surfaces.
OBJECTIVE
This study evaluated the inactivation of virulent Yersinia pestis dried on polymers, steel, and glass surfaces using vapour-phase hydrogen peroxide.


RESULTS
A suspension of Y. pestis CO92 (1.70 x 10(8) CFU) was dried on 10 different types of test surfaces and exposed to vapour-phase hydrogen peroxide fumigation for a contact time of 2 h. A significant reduction in the log10 CFU of Y. pestis on all 10 materials was observed between the controls evaluated after a 1 h drying time and unexposed controls evaluated after the decontamination run. Qualitative growth assessment showed that vapour-phase hydrogen peroxide exposure inactivated Y. pestis on all replicates of the 10 test materials as well as biological indicators up to 7 days postexposure.


CONCLUSIONS
Virulent Y. pestis CO92 is inactivated on polymers, steel, and glass surfaces when exposed to vapour-phase hydrogen peroxide without observable physical damage to the test materials.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides information for using vapour-phase hydrogen peroxide as a practical process for the decontamination of virulent Y. pestis in circumstances where time-dependent attenuation/inactivation orliquid/heat decontamination may not be the most suitable approach.
Rogers
J V
JV
Battelle Biomedical Research Center, 505 King Avenue, JM-7, Columbus, OH 43201, USA. rogersjv@battelle.org
Richter
W R
WR
Shaw
M Q
MQ
Choi
Y W
YW
D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D003890:Desiccation; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005898:Glass; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods; D011108:Polymers; D013232:Steel; D015010:Yersinia pestis / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
D004202:Disinfectants; D011108:Polymers; D013232:Steel; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide