[Mechanism of the interaction of chloramine with Pseudomonas aeruginosa]

The disinfecting effect of chloramine on P. aeruginosa depends on the concentration of this disinfecting agent, the concentration of P. aeruginosa and the period of exposure, with consideration for the time of attaining equilibrium between the concentration of chloramine and P. aeruginosa, affinity between the disinfectant and bacterial cells, the number of chloramine-binding sites on a bacterial cell, the admixture of organic substances, pH and other environmental characteristics. The interaction of chloramine and P. aeruginosa can be subdivided into two stages: (1) the binding of the disinfectant by bacterial cells and (2) the death of the microbes. The mathematical description of the process of disinfection requires that the main characteristics be expressed in molecular parameters and the time factor be correlated with the terms of attaining the equilibrium for free and bound chloramine. The average number of binding sites for chloramine on a bacterial cell and the affinity constant of chloramine to binding sites have been estimated.