Evaluation of effect of active mist ion air disinfection on Mycobacterium

  Objective  To evaluate the effect of an active mist ion air disinfection machine on Mycobacterium and provide a new technology for effective control of Mycobacterium infection.

  Methods  According to the “Technical Specification for Disinfection” (2002 edition), the disinfection effect of the active mist ion air disinfection machine was evaluated. After recovery and activation by three times passage culture on Löwenstein-Jensen (L-J) slants, 10⁸ cfu/mL bacterial solution of Mycobacterium chelonensis subspecies abscessus ATCC 93326, a representative strain for Mycobacterium evaluation, was prepared, then 10 μL bacteria solution were dropped on two kinds of carriers, cloth strips and stainless steel discs. After the disinfection by tested active mist ion air disinfection machine for 2, 6, 12 and 24 hours, the bacteria were eluted and counted by 10×folds dilution and 100 μL was cultured on 7H10+10% oleic acid-albumin-dextrose-catalase (OADC) for four days. The killing rate and killing logarithm were calculated.

  Results  After 6 hours of disinfection, this air disinfection machine showed a killing rate of 97.95% for Mycobacterium. When the disinfection lasted for 12 and 24 hours, the killing rate was >99.99% and the killing logarithm was >3. The disinfection effect was slightly better on stainless steel discs than on cloth strips.

  Conclusion  This active mist ion air disinfection machine is effective for killing Mycobacteria and is suitable for the air and surface disinfection and effective control of Mycobacterium infection.