Effect of extremely low-concentration gaseous chlorine dioxide against surface Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii in wet conditions on glass dishes

Abstract

Objective: Healthcare-associated infections due to Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) are a major cause of mortality and morbidity throughout the world. The purpose of the research described here was to evaluate the possibility of using an extremely low-concentration gaseous chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 , 0.01 ppmv, 0.028 mg/m 3) as a technique to reduce the risk of environmental infection by GNB. In this study we set up an exposure chamber (1 m 3) and used three types of GNB, namely Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter baumannii. Results: The extremely low-concentration gaseous ClO 2 inactivated E. coli (> 2 log 10 reductions, within 2 h), P. aeruginosa (> 4 log 10 reductions, within 2 h) and A. baumannii (> 2 log 10 reductions, within 3 h) in wet conditions on glass dishes. Treatment of moist environments with extremely low-concentration gaseous ClO 2 may help to reduce the risk of environmental infection by GNB without harmful effects.

Investigation of Safety of Low-Dose Inhaled Chlorine Dioxide Gas on Pregnant Rats

“…To explain why in this study almost all the gram-negative bacteria disappeared or decreased after exposure to AirDoctor®, chlorine dioxide solution is more effective against gram-negative than gram-positive (38). It is interesting to mention that mortality and morbidity throughout the world are due to gram-negative bacteria; which can cause respiratory tract infections (7). The outer cell membrane is a distinguishing feature of gram-negative bacteria and chlorine dioxide was found to increase the permeability of the outer membrane and the cytoplasmic cell membrane thus resulting in release the of vital nuclear material and then loss of cell activity or death (39).…”

“…There may be negative and skeptical opinions by healthcare providers because there is a lack of awareness about the safety and efficacy of low-concentration ClO2 in some countries where ClO2 producing kits are used (7). In fact, ClO2 inhalation can cause death if exposures are above the occupational exposure limit value (7).…”

“…It reacts with proteins and amino acids in the bacterial cell structure and alters their chemical characteristics which then destroy it (36). The inactivation of microbes by (ClO2 ) is caused by oxidative modification of their tryptophan and tyrosine residues (7). (ClO2 ) can react faster with cysteine and methionine than with tyrosine and tryptophan, because the first two amino acids contain sulfur atoms ( two aromatic amino acids) which assumes the antimicrobial effect of chlorine dioxide (37).…”

“…It is considered a useful gas to be employed to prevent the transmission of respiratory infections in public places such as offices, schools, theatres, hospitals, and airports (2). The low concentration of ClO2 is considered to be sufficiently effective against aerosol infection for the causative microorganism of nosocomial infection (7). The high concentration, it effectively inhibits microbial and viral activity (3).…”

“…For the bacteria, the ClO2 solution was more effective against Escherichia coli (Gram-negative) than Staphylococcus aureus (Grampositive). Furthermore, ClO2 would be useful for reducing the risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) and swineorigin Flu-A infections in wet environments such as kitchens and bathrooms (7). It was also found that the ClO2 at 0.03 ppm concentration is useful against mosquito-related infective diseases, such as malaria and dengue fever (8).…”