title: Decontamination of a hard surface contaminated with Bacillus anthracisΔSterne and B. anthracis Ames spores using electrochemically generated liquid-phase chlorine dioxide (eClO2).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the inactivation of Bacillus anthracisΔSterne and Ames spores using electrochemically generated liquid-phase chlorine dioxide (eClO(2)) and compare two sporulation and decontamination methods with regard to cost, safety and technical constraints.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Spores were prepared via agar and broth methods and subsequently inoculated and dried onto clean, autoclave-sterilized glass coupons. Bacillus anthracis spore inactivation efficacy was evaluated using the modified three-step method (AOAC 2008.05) and a single-tube extraction method. Spores (7·0 ± 0·5 logs) were inactivated within 1 min at room temperature using freshly prepared eClO(2). Bacillus anthracisΔSterne spores decreased in size after eClO(2) treatment as measured using a Beckman Coulter Multisizer.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  eClO(2) saturation of a hard surface was an effective B. anthracis sporicide. Broth sporulation and the single-tube extraction method required less time and fewer steps, yielded a higher percentage of phase-bright spores and showed higher spore recovery efficiency compared with AOAC 2008.05, making it more amenable to biosafety level 3 (BSL3) testing of virulent spores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Two test methods demonstrated the sporicidal efficacy of eClO(2). A new single-tube extraction test protocol for decontaminants was introduced.
authors.affiliation: Naval Surface Warfare Center - Dahlgren Division, Dahlgren, VA 22448-5162, USA. DLGR_NSWC_Z20@navy.mil
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Buhr
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: Z A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Minter
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Shegogue
mesh_terms: D001408:Bacillus anthracis / Q000187:drug effects*; D017606:Chlorine Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000737:chemistry*; D050296:Microbial Viability; D010087:Oxides / Q000737:chemistry*; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D017606:Chlorine Compounds; D004202:Disinfectants; D010087:Oxides; C025109:chlorine dioxide