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The influence of atmospheric drying on the survival of wound flora

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

E. J. L. Lowbury  and
Jean Fox
E. J. L. Lowbury
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Industrial Injuries and Burns Research Unit, Birmingham Accident Hospital
Jean Fox
Affiliation:
Medical Research Council Industrial Injuries and Burns Research Unit, Birmingham Accident Hospital
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Suspensions of Strep. pyogenes, Staph. aureus, Ps. pyocyanea and micrococci in serum, distilled water, saline and oleic acid solution were allowed to dry on cover-slips. The numbers of bacteria surviving after periods of exposure were estimated from viable counts of extracted cover-slips.

All the organisms tested showed after drying a fall in viable count that was absent in aqueous suspensions not allowed to dry. Ps. pyocyanea was shown to have a lower survival rate on drying than the other organisms.

Serum afforded moderate protection to the suspended organisms during the period of drying.

0·1 mg./ml. oleic acid caused a rapid destruction of Strep. pyogenes and a significant destruction of Ps. pyocyanea as well as of Staph. aureus and micrococci in drying films of these organisms. The similarity of the fate of Staph. aureus and micrococci during drying in low concentrations of oleic acid is in contrast to the previously reported greater sensitivity of Staph. aureus to higher concentrations of oleic acid (1–10 mg./ml.) in the test-tube.

The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to skin and wound flora, and to environmental hygiene.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 51 , Issue 2 , June 1953 , pp. 203 - 214
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1953

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