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Studies of the loss of viability of bacterial aerosols*: III. Factors affecting death rates of certain non-pathogens

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

Ronald M. Ferry ,
William F. Brown  and
Edwin B. Damon
Ronald M. Ferry
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
William F. Brown
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
Edwin B. Damon
Affiliation:
Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
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1. Additional quantitative studies of the survival of micro-organisms in aerosols are reported.

2. Substitution of nitrogen for oxygen in the ambient medium decreases k′2, the rate of secondary loss of viability of M. candidus, Esch. coli and S. marcescens, by 30–50%.

3. The rate of primary decay (k′1) of Esch. coli does not appear to be affected by a similar change of atmosphere.

4. The rate of secondary decay, k′2, of M. candidus appears to increase two-to three-fold for 10°C. increments in temperature.

5. Treatment of suspensions of Esch. coli with petroleum ether alone or containing lipid material increases k′1 in aerosols generated from such suspensions.

6. Treatment of Myco. phlei with petroleum ether appears to lower resistance to subsequent sonic irradiation.

These observations are consistent with the hypothesis that differences in the physical and chemical structure of micro-organisms are reflected in constants k′1, k′2 and b.

We gratefully acknowledge the effective interest of two former assistants, T. Grant Maple and Eugene Mills, as well as the careful, effective, and conscientious work of our technical assistants, Ann Barr, Nora Galins, Cynthia Hartwig, Grace C. Leigh, Elizabeth Neidhardt, Paulette Slaney and Martha Szerslip, who have at different times helped secure the data presented here. Mrs Joseph J. Ecker deserves special thanks for care in the preparation of the manuscript.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 56 , Issue 3 , September 1958 , pp. 389 - 403
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1958

References

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