Acetic Acid, the Active Component of Vinegar, Is an Effective Tuberculocidal Disinfectant

Abstract

Effective and economical mycobactericidal disinfectants are needed to kill both Mycobacterium tuberculosis and non-M. tuberculosis mycobacteria. We found that acetic acid (vinegar) efficiently kills M. tuberculosis after 30 min of exposure to a 6% acetic acid solution. The activity is not due to pH alone, and propionic acid also appears to be bactericidal. M. bolletii and M. massiliense nontuberculous mycobacteria were more resistant, although a 30-min exposure to 10% acetic acid resulted in at least a 6-log10 reduction of viable bacteria. Acetic acid (vinegar) is an effective mycobactericidal disinfectant that should also be active against most other bacteria. These findings are consistent with and extend the results of studies performed in the early and mid-20th century on the disinfectant capacity of organic acids.IMPORTANCE Mycobacteria are best known for causing tuberculosis and leprosy, but infections with nontuberculous mycobacteria are an increasing problem after surgical or cosmetic procedures or in the lungs of cystic fibrosis and immunosuppressed patients. Killing mycobacteria is important because Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains can be multidrug resistant and therefore potentially fatal biohazards, and environmental mycobacteria must be thoroughly eliminated from surgical implements and respiratory equipment. Currently used mycobactericidal disinfectants can be toxic, unstable, and expensive. We fortuitously found that acetic acid kills mycobacteria and then showed that it is an effective mycobactericidal agent, even against the very resistant, clinically important Mycobacterium abscessus complex. Vinegar has been used for thousands of years as a common disinfectant, and if it can kill mycobacteria, the most disinfectant-resistant bacteria, it may prove to be a broadly effective, economical biocide with potential usefulness in health care settings and laboratories, especially in resource-poor countries.

Pretreatment Of Nano Chitosan And Nano Calcium (X. gideon) In The Application Of Acetic Acid To Enamel Hardness

“…In the presented study, the use of acetic acid has been analyzed by looking at the lifestyle of people who use acetic acid for consumption. The form of acetic acid commonly used in foods such as vinegar from fruits, rice vinegar, and kitchen vinegar has a composition of acetic acid of 15%-29% (Cortesia et al, 2014). Chitosan has a long-term effect after administration, this gives its own advantages to chitosan in preventing demineralization.…”

In vitro data support the investigation of vinegar as an antimicrobial agent for PD‐associated Pseudomonas exit site infections

“…Cortesia and colleagues observed rare colonies of Escherichia coli or Mycobacterium smegmatis surviving 5% acetic acid treatment after 20 min. However, further testing showed cidal activity of acetic acid against these isolates equivalent to the original sensitive isolates indicating no resistance or tolerance had developed . While further work is necessary to confirm this, it seems that resistance to vinegar is unlikely to develop.…”

“…As a topical antimicrobial agent, vinegar and its active ingredient acetic acid have several useful characteristics including broad spectrum antimicrobial activity. Data on the susceptibility of bacteria to vinegar are scanty and vary widely in the methods used but tuberculous and non‐tuberculous mycobacteria, Salmonella , Pseudomonas , enterococci including vancomycin resistant isolates, Staphylococcus aureus , S . epidermidis , Proteus vulgaris and Escherichia coli have been shown to be susceptible.…”

Uji In Vitro Asap Cair terhadap Ralstonia syzygii subsp. celebesensis Penyebab Penyakit Darah pada Pisang

“…(Salvadago 2006). Senyawa asam juga dapat mengasamkan sitoplasma sel bakteri dan merusak permeabilitas membran sel (Cortesia et al 2014). Akibatnya transportasi aktif nutrisi ke dalam sel melalui membran akan terganggu, fungsi dan struktur komponen sel bakteri menjadi tidak stabil, dan akhirnya sel melisis.…”