title: Survival of bacteria of laboratory animal origin on cage bedding and inactivation by hydrogen peroxide vapour.
abstract: This study aims to determine the ability of laboratory animal bacteria to resist desiccation and inactivation by hydrogen peroxide vapour (HPV) on paper bedding pieces. Bedding pieces were saturated with bacterial suspensions in water or 2% (w/v) bovine serum albumin (BSA) in water, and held in a mouse facility. Viable counts showed variable survival rates over time for the bacterial species used ([ Pasteurella] pneumotropica, Muribacter muris, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter redioresistens, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella oxytoca, Bordetella bronchiseptica, Bordetella hinzii, Enterococcus faecalis, β-haemolytic Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus xylosus). Overall, BSA increased bacterial survival in the bedding pieces. The survival rates of Bacillus safensis were not influenced by BSA but depended on sporulation. When bedding pieces and Petri dishes inoculated with E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus were subjected to HPV disinfection, all bacterial species on the bedding pieces inoculated with bacterial suspensions in water were readily inactivated. By contrast, S. aureus and P. aeruginosa, but not E. coli cells survived HPV treatment in high numbers when inoculated on bedding pieces as a BSA suspension. Notably, all three bacterial species were readily inactivated by HPV even in the presence of BSA when smeared on smooth surfaces. In conclusion, the suspension medium and the carrier can influence the environmental survival and susceptibility of bacterial species to HPV. Our results may help to develop standard protocols that can be used to ensure the microbiological quality of experimental rodent housing.
authors.affiliation: 1 Central Unit for Animal Research and Animal Welfare Affairs.
authors.forename: Laurentiu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Benga
authors.affiliation: 1 Central Unit for Animal Research and Animal Welfare Affairs.
authors.forename: W Peter M
authors.initials: WPM
authors.lastname: Benten
authors.affiliation: 1 Central Unit for Animal Research and Animal Welfare Affairs.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Engelhardt
authors.affiliation: 1 Central Unit for Animal Research and Animal Welfare Affairs.
authors.forename: Christina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gougoula
authors.affiliation: 2 Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, University Hospital, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: Roland
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schulze-Röbbecke
authors.affiliation: 1 Central Unit for Animal Research and Animal Welfare Affairs.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sager
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000830:Animals, Laboratory; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D001512:Bedding and Linens / Q000382:microbiology*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D006799:Housing, Animal; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus
chemical_list: D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide
keywords: health monitoring; hydrogen peroxide vapour; laboratory animal bacteria; room disinfection; soiled bedding sentinels