title: Evaluating decontamination protocols for the isolation of Mycobacterium ulcerans from swabs.
abstract: Mycobacterium ulcerans (M. ulcerans) is the causative agent of Buruli Ulcer (BU) disease. In order to inhibit the growth of the microbial contaminants during culture of M. ulcerans, it is necessary to decontaminate BU samples with effective chemical agents. This study aimed at investigating some selected chemicals as potential decontamination agents for the isolation of M. ulcerans from swabs.
  
  
  
  Povidone iodine at 0.5 and 1% exhibited the lowest contamination and recovery rate for microbial contaminants and M. ulcerans. The most effective decontamination method was the protocol using 2% cetylpyridinium chloride/4% sodium chloride (recovery rate = 53%, contamination rate = 14%). The observed difference between the recovery rate of 2% CPC/4% NaC and the other protocols was however not statistically significant (p = 0.76).
  
  
  
  Two percent (2%) cetylpyridinium chloride/4% sodium chloride can be conveniently used as an alternative decontamination method for the isolation of M. ulcerans from swabs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana. enidowusu15@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Enid
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Owusu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Mercy J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Amos
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akumwena
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bannerman
authors.affiliation: Swiss Tropical Institute, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Gerd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pluschke
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D054312:Buruli Ulcer / Q000382:microbiology; D002594:Cetylpyridinium / Q000494:pharmacology; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D005869:Ghana; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D019911:Mycobacterium ulcerans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019815:Oxalic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D011206:Povidone-Iodine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011206:Povidone-Iodine; D019815:Oxalic Acid; D002594:Cetylpyridinium
keywords: Buruli ulcer; Cetyl pyridinium chloride; Decontamination; Ghana; Mycobacterium ulcerans; Oxalic acid