Enhancement of microbicidal efficacy of chemical disinfectants when combined with ultrasound technology.

This study investigated the antimicrobial efficacy of ultrasound technology (US) in combination with two different disinfectants (Disinfectant A and Disinfectant B), containing Peracetic Acid (PAA) and Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs), respectively, against two sporigenic pathogens, Aspergillus brasiliensis and Bacillus subtilis. The microbicidal activity of the coupled treatment was compared with the use of the disinfectants alone, and the efficacy of the disinfection strategies was evaluated by the log reduction of the population of the microorganism inoculated onto stainless-steel surface. The combination treatment resulted in a log reduction of 5,40 and 3,88 (Disinfectant A + US) against A. brasiliensis and B. subtilis, at 850 and 500 ppm PAA, compared to 2,65 and 1,22 (Disinfectant A only). For Disinfectant B, in combination with US, showed a logarithmic reduction of 5,04 and 4,79 against A. brasiliensis and B. subtilis, at 0,78% v v-1 and 3,92% v v-1 QACs, respectively, versus 1,58 and 1,64 (Disinfectant B only). Moreover, no colonies or not statistically significant growth was observed within the US bath containing the disinfectant. The antimicrobial efficacy of the two disinfectants was greatly enhanced when used in combination with US, and this also makes it possible to avoid the overuse of chemicals for disinfection.

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© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Applied Microbiology International.