[The effect of glutaraldehyde on mycobacteria and on selected types of bacteria]

The author tested the action of 2% alkalinized glutaraldehyde on Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. kansasii, M. avium, M. xenopi and M. fortuitum, as well as Staphyloccocus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Bacillus cereus, B. megatherium and B. subtilis. After 5-minute exposure devitalization of M. tuberculosis, M. kansasii and vegetative forms of the tested bacteria occurred. A sporicide effect was recorded already after 30 minutes or after more than 120 minutes. Most resistant were potentially pathogenic M. fortuitum, M. xenopi and M. avium where the disinfectant effect (a drop of CFU by 99.99%) was recorded after 7-63 minutes and their complete devitalization occurred after 3 (M. fortuitum) to 20 hours' (M. avium) action. The author recommends therefore exposure for 24 hours for sterilization of objects contamined with the above species of mycobacteria. This pertains in particular to instruments which cannot be sterilized by heat (endoscopes, bronchoscopes, sigmoidoscopes etc.), used in the diagnosis of mycobacterioses in patients with compromised immunity, e.g. in AIDS.