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Effectiveness of Disinfecting and Sporicidal Wipes against Bacillus atrophaeus, a Bacillus anthracis Surrogate
Citation:
Oudejans, L., L. Mickelsen, AND K. McConkey. Effectiveness of Disinfecting and Sporicidal Wipes against Bacillus atrophaeus, a Bacillus anthracis Surrogate. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600S-17/182, 2017.
Impact/Purpose:
Disposable wipe materials can, when saturated with a sporicidal liquid, facilitate the inactivation of biological agents such as Bacillus anthracis (B. anthracis) spores, the causative agent of anthrax. Disinfecting and sporicidal wipes are frequently used in healthcare settings; they are appealing because they are readily available and easy to use. Sporicidal wipes are registered as antimicrobial products effective against C. difficile spores under the U.S. Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). However, sporicidal wipes have not been developed specifically for use against B. anthracis. This technical brief summarizes research that considered the use of disinfecting and sporicidal wipes for decontamination of surfaces following a B. anthracis release. The B. anthracis surrogate, B. atrophaeus was used for this study. Many types of disinfectant and/or sporicidal wipes exist and are commercially available. Of the wipes tested, only the sporicidal wipes were effective against B. atrophaeus. There are, however, significant limitations on the area that can be wiped with such sporicidal wipes. Date in this technical brief will help individuals such as incident commanders and remediation personnel make informed decisions about surface decontamination options after a biological contamination incident.
Description:
Technical Brief