The disinfectant effect of sodium hypochlorite on bacteria causing nosocomial infections: Sodium hypochlorite and nosocomial pathogens

Aysel Karataş; Mert Ahmet Kuşkucu; Gökhan Aygün; Kemal Altaş

doi:10.5281/zenodo.17770721

Authors

Aysel Karataş University of Health Science, Prof. Dr. Cemil Taşcıoğlu City Hospital, Department of Medical Microbiology, İstanbul,Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8916-8499
Mert Ahmet Kuşkucu Koç University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, İstanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8735-5725
Gökhan Aygün İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa- Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, İstanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6915-9843
Kemal Altaş Haliç University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medical Microbiology, İstanbul, Turkey https://orcid.org/0009-0002-0797-1785

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17770721

Keywords:

Disinfection, disinfectant resistance, nosocomial infection, sodium hypochlorite

Abstract

Objective: Antiseptics and disinfectants are widely used to prevent and control nosocomial infections (NIs). As with antibiotics, the increasing use of these agents has raised concerns regarding the potential development of resistance to them. In this study, the efficacy of sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) against common NI agents was investigated.
Methods: This study examined bacteria isolated from various clinical specimens obtained from patients hospitalised in the intensive care unit at a microbiology laboratory. The isolate group consisted of two methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), five methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), seven Klebsiella pneumoniae, two Escherichia coli, ten Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and eight Acinetobacter baumannii. The effectiveness of 1/10, 1/100, and 1/1000 dilutions of NaClO was tested at contact times of 2.5, 5, and 10 minutes against these bacterial isolates. Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 were used as quality control strains.
Results: The study revealed that 10% NaClO demonstrated a bactericidal effect against all isolates and standard strains when diluted 1/10 at all contact times. As the dilution rate increased, longer contact times were required for the solution to achieve bactericidal activity against an Acinetobacter baumannii isolate. However, one Acinetobacter baumannii isolate remained resistant to a 1:1000 dilution of NaClO after 10 minutes of contact. Although a slight statistical difference was observed between contact times at higher NaClO dilution rates for A. baumannii (p=0.06), this difference was not statistically significant (p>0.05).
Conclusion: When diluted 1:100, 10% NaClO was found to be effective against common nosocomial pathogens. Microorganism growth was detected at lower NaClO concentrations.

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