title: The effects of environmental conditions on persistence and inactivation of Brucella suis on building material surfaces.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of environmental conditions and material type on persistence and inactivation of Brucella suis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brucella suis (approx. 1 × 10(8) CFU) was spiked onto surfaces (glass, aluminium and wood) by liquid inoculation. Persistence was evaluated over 56 days at 22 ± 2°C, 40 ± 15% r.h. and 5 ± 3°C, 30 ± 15% r.h. In addition, three readily available decontaminants (pH-adjusted bleach, 70% ethanol and 1% citric acid) were evaluated for their effectiveness at inactivating Br. suis on these materials. Decontaminations were conducted following 0 and 28 days exposure to the two conditions. Results indicated that Br. suis can persist on environmental surfaces for at least 56 days. Persistence was highest at low temperature. Decontamination was most challenging on wood with all three decontaminants.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Following a Br. suis contamination incident, passive decontamination (through attenuation) may not be feasible, as this organism can persist for months. In addition, the results suggest that some sporicidal decontaminants may be ineffective on materials such as wood, even for vegetative biological agents such as Br. suis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study aids incident commanders and remediation experts to make informed decisions regarding decontamination after a biological contamination incident.
authors.affiliation: US EPA, Office of Research and Development, National Homeland Security Research Center, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA. calfee.worth@epa.gov
authors.forename: M Worth
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Calfee
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wendling
mesh_terms: D000535:Aluminum; D041021:Brucella suis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D019343:Citric Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000382:microbiology*; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005898:Glass; D006813:Humidity; D006997:Hypochlorous Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014934:Wood / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D019343:Citric Acid; D000431:Ethanol; D006997:Hypochlorous Acid; D000535:Aluminum