Evaluation of disinfectants on military NATO and DECON litters

This study evaluated the effectiveness of five disinfectants: A33, 10% bleach, 1% bleach, SPOROX, and 3% H2O2, on military NATO and DECON litters.

Suspensions of Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, and spore-enhanced Bacillus subtilis, with five percent albumin, were inoculated onto litters and dried overnight. The litters were saturated with disinfectant solutions and sampled after 10 minutes. The Log10 reduction in the number of bacteria recovered was calculated.

59th Medical Wing, 59th Clinical Research Division, Lackland AFB TX.

A reduction of > or =3 Log10 in the number of bacteria recovered from the test squares compared to the control squares was considered effective disinfection.

On the NATO litter 10% bleach and SPOROX were effective against vegetative cells. On the DECON litter A33, 10% bleach, and SPOROX were effective against vegetative cells. After the 10 minute exposure none of the disinfectants evaluated were effective against spore-enhanced B. subtilis.

When contaminated with vegetative cells military NATO and DECON litters can be effectively disinfected with a 10 minute exposure to some disinfectants. Further research is needed to find an effective disinfectant for spore contamination.