A novel approach to explain the inactivation mechanism of Escherichia coli employing a commercially available peracetic acid.
The chemical inactivation of Escherichia coli employing a commercial mixture of peracetic acid (PAA) was studied. For this purpose, experiments were carried out using dilutions of the unmodified mixture, and also the same mixture but altered with hydrogen peroxide (HP) previously inhibited. Also, these results were compared to those obtained before employing HP alone. It was found that the mixture is much more efficient than HP and PAA acting separately. Furthermore, it was found that PAA without HP is much more efficient than HP alone. A plausible explanation is presented. The homolysis of PAA would give rise to a chain reaction that generates a significant number of highly oxidizing radicals. An attacking scheme to bacteria in two stages is proposed, where the initial step, mainly caused by PAA, is very fast and eliminates some specific components of the bacteria that would otherwise inhibit the parallel action of HP. Thereafter, the emergence of a potentiating synergetic action of the second oxidant seems to be immediately unveiled.
INTEC (Universidad Nacional del Litoral and CONICET), Guemes 3450-CP 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina E-mail: mlabas@santafe-conicet.gov.ar.
Marina J
MJ
Flores
INTEC (Universidad Nacional del Litoral and CONICET), Guemes 3450-CP 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina E-mail: mlabas@santafe-conicet.gov.ar.
Maia R
MR
Lescano
INTEC (Universidad Nacional del Litoral and CONICET), Guemes 3450-CP 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina E-mail: mlabas@santafe-conicet.gov.ar; Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hídricas (FICH), Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional N° 168 - Km 472,4, (3000) Santa Fe, Argentina.
Rodolfo J
RJ
Brandi
INTEC (Universidad Nacional del Litoral and CONICET), Guemes 3450-CP 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina E-mail: mlabas@santafe-conicet.gov.ar; Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hídricas (FICH), Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional N° 168 - Km 472,4, (3000) Santa Fe, Argentina.
Alberto E
AE
Cassano
INTEC (Universidad Nacional del Litoral and CONICET), Guemes 3450-CP 3000, Santa Fe, Argentina E-mail: mlabas@santafe-conicet.gov.ar; Facultad de Ingeniería y Ciencias Hídricas (FICH), Universidad Nacional del Litoral, Ciudad Universitaria, Ruta Nacional N° 168 - Km 472,4, (3000) Santa Fe, Argentina.
Marisol D
MD
Labas
D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects*; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010463:Peracetic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology*
D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D010463:Peracetic Acid