%0 Journal Article
%T Digluconate and Isopropyl Alcohol Biocide Formulation
%A Emma Hendry
%A Barbara Conway
%A Tony Worthington
%J International Journal of Molecular Sciences
%D 2012
%I MDPI AG
%R 10.3390/ijms131114016
%X Effective surface disinfection is a fundamental infection control strategy within healthcare. This study assessed the antimicrobial efficacy of novel biocide formulations comprising 5% and 2% eucalyptus oil (EO) combined with 2% chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) and 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) contained within a wipe. The efficacy of this novel antimicrobial formulation to remove and eliminate methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Escherichia coli and Candida albicans from steel surfaces was investigated. Adpression studies of pre-contaminated wipes were also utilised to assess their potential to induce cross-contamination between hard surfaces. Furthermore, the bactericidal nature of the EO-formulation was established in addition to time-kill. The EO-containing formulations demonstrated bactericidal antimicrobial efficacy against all microorganisms and did not induce surface cross-contamination. There was no significant difference ( p < 0.05) between the 5% and 2% EO formulations in their ability to remove microorganisms from steel surfaces, however both significantly ( p < 0.05) removed more than the control formulations. Microbial biofilms were eliminated within 10 min ( p < 0.05) when exposed to the EO formulations. Our novel EO-formulation demonstrated rapid antimicrobial efficacy for potential disinfection and elimination of microbial biofilms from hard surfaces and may therefore be a useful adjunct to current infection control strategies currently employed within healthcare facilities.
%K eucalyptus oil
%K green biocide
%K biofilm
%K surface disinfection
%K chlorhexidine digluconate
%K healthcare associated infection
%U http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/13/11/14016