Use of flow cytometry for the evaluation of disinfectant effectiveness

Flow cytometric analysis is used to evaluate various microorganisms’ susceptibility to antibacterial agents and disinfectants. A new paper describes a study where Candida albicans was used to assess the method against three disinfectants. The disinfectants examined were: 70% - ethanol and two 70%- ethanol based commercial hand disinfectants with smoothing and cleaning additives.

To detect the presence of damaged microbial cells EtBr was used. With the method, a 1 minute sample incubation time showed 36.25% ± 1.45 and 35.0% ±2,0 dead cells present as a result of commercial disinfectants-1 and -2, incubation; and 86.5% ±2.8 after the incubation with 70%- ethanol. With a 3 - minute incubation time, the corresponding results were 43.25% ±3.95; 43.5% ±2.6; 86.5% ±4.3. These were significant in multigroup comparison. With a 5-minute incubation time, C. albicans samples showed an antiseptic activity against the chemicals under investigation of: 85.5% ±2.7; 84.5% ±2.4 and 91.3% ±3.57 respectively. Here there was no significant difference.

The reference of the paper is:

Akhmaltdinova, L.L., Azizov, I., Sandle, T., Gyurka, A.G. and Chessca, A. (2016) Use of flow cytometry for the evaluation of disinfectant effectiveness, Archives of the Balkan Medical Union, 51 (2): 213-215

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Posted by Dr. Tim Sandle