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The activity of glutaraldehyde against Clostridium difficile
The Journal of Hospital Infection
|March 1, 1985
Summary
2% glutaraldehyde effectively kills Clostridium difficile spores in under 10 minutes, significantly faster than standard aerobic bacterial spores. This suggests current disinfection standards may be overly stringent for practical applications.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Disinfection and Sterilization
Background:
- Glutaraldehyde is a common high-level disinfectant.
- Standardized testing for sporicidal activity often uses non-pathogenic aerobic spores.
- Clostridium difficile is a significant healthcare-associated pathogen known for its resilient spores.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the sporicidal efficacy of 2% glutaraldehyde against Clostridium difficile spores versus standard test organisms.
- To evaluate the suitability of current disinfection testing standards in light of observed sporicidal activity.
Main Methods:
- Exposure of Bacillus subtilis var. globigii and Bacillus stearothermophilus spores to 2% glutaraldehyde.
- Exposure of Clostridium difficile spores to 2% glutaraldehyde.
- Quantification of surviving spores after defined exposure times.
Main Results:
- Bacillus subtilis var. globigii and Bacillus stearothermophilus survived 2% glutaraldehyde exposure for 2 hours.
- Clostridium difficile spores were inactivated by 2% glutaraldehyde in less than 10 minutes.
- A significant difference in sporicidal activity was observed between the aerobic test species and C. difficile.
Conclusions:
- 2% glutaraldehyde demonstrates rapid sporicidal activity against Clostridium difficile.
- Current standardized disinfection tests using non-pathogenic aerobic spores may not accurately reflect efficacy against clinically relevant pathogens like C. difficile.
- A less stringent standard for sporicidal activity testing might be more appropriate and practical.