The effect of disinfectants on a geosmin-producing strain of Streptomyces griseus

This study describes the bactericidal and sporicidal effects of four disinfectants on a geosmin-producing strain of Streptomyces griseus. The disinfectants investigated were chlorine, chloramine, chlorine dioxide and ozone. Chlorine and chlorine dioxide at concentrations around 1 mg/l were effective inactivators of both spore and mycelial propagules. Decimation times of less than 1 min were determined in each case. Both growth forms exhibited a high ozone demand, but decimation times resulting from an initial dose of around 2.5 mg/l were approximately 1.5 min. Monochloramine was comparatively less effective: at a concentration of approximately 1 mg/l the decimation times for spores and mycelia were 13.8 and 22.7 min, respectively.