Comparison of a solution of super-oxidized water (Sterilox (R)) with glutaraldehyde for the disinfection of bronchoscopes, contaminated in vitro withMycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare in sputum
Am. Middleton et al., Comparison of a solution of super-oxidized water (Sterilox (R)) with glutaraldehyde for the disinfection of bronchoscopes, contaminated in vitro withMycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare in sputum, J HOSP INF, 45(4), 2000, pp. 278-282
The efficacy of Sterilox(R), a super-oxidized water holding a reduction/oxi
dation potential of greater than 950 mV was compared with the efficacy of g
lutaraldehyde against clinical isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and M
ycobacterium avium-intracellulare. An in use method using an automated bron
choscope washing machine demonstrated that over five cycles, Sterilox(R) wi
th a contact time of 5 min gave log(10) reduction factors for M. tuberculos
is and M. avium-intracellulare of >6 and >5, respectively. Glutaraldehyde w
ith a contact time of 10 min gale log(10) reduction factors for both M. tub
erculosis and M. avium-intracellulare of >4, and at a contact time of 20 mi
n >5 each. The non-toxic nature of Sterilox(R), together with the reduction
in viable counts demonstrated in this study, suggest that the solution is
an effective alternative mycobactericidal agent to the established disinfec
tants for the disinfection of bronchoscopes and, therefore, justifies furth
er investigation. (C) 2000 The Hospital Infection Society.