Peracetic acid-based disinfectant is the most appropriate solution for a biological decontamination procedure of responders and healthcare workers in the field environment.

AIMS: An effective decontamination procedure of personnel wearing personal protective equipment is required by CBRN responders and healthcare workers when dealing with biological warfare agents or natural outbreaks caused by highly contagious pathogens. This study aimed to identify critical factors affecting the efficacy of peracetic acid (PAA)-based disinfectants and products containing either hydrogen peroxide or sodium hypochlorite under the same conditions. METHODS AND RESULTS: The influence of concentration, application (contact) time, erroneous human behaviour, interfering substance, technical assets and weather conditions on disinfection efficacy against Bacillus subtilis spores were assessed in 14 experimental groups. Residual contamination of protective suits was measured to provide responders with readily understandable information (up to 100 colony forming units classified a suit as disinfected). Weather conditions, short application time and erroneous human behaviour substantially affected the effectiveness of PAAs (P < 0·05). Non-PAA-based disinfectants (either liquid or foam) did not reach comparable efficacy (P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: Peracetic acid was effective at a concentration of 6400-8200 ppm and an application time of 4 min. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The study provides operationally relevant data for the use of PAA-based disinfectants in preparedness planning and management of biological incidents and natural outbreaks.

Decontamination of CBRN units contaminated by highly contagious biological agents.

A decontamination process plays a key role in management of biological incidents. While decontamination of surfaces and buildings located in the hot zone can be usually postponed until an agent is confirmed and an adequate planning phase is established, personnel wearing personal protective equipment must be decontaminated prior to their final exit from the hot zone. Because CBRN units require the shortest possible duration of this procedure, many factors must be considered, including concentration of biological agents, precleaning, disinfectant formulae, its concentration and spectrum of efficacy, contact time, external conditions (temperature, pH, relative humidity, soil load), technical assets used for decontamination, decontaminated surface (compatibility, pores), and staff performance. Experimental tests with surrogates of biological agents are thus necessary to identify above-mentioned points. Once an optimal decontamination procedure is recognized, a field rehearsal must follow and the method using a surrogate must be implemented into a training process of CBRN units.

Binuclear Rhodium(II) Complexes With Selective Antibacterial Activity.

Binuclear rhodium(II) complexes [Rh(2)Cl(2)(mu-OOCR)(2)(N-N)(2)] {R = H, Me; N-N = 2,2'-bipyridine (bpy), 1,10-phenanthroline (phen)} and [Rh(2)(mu-OOCR)(2)(N-N)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](RCOO)(2) (R = Me, Et;) have been synthesized and their structure and properties have been studied by electronic, IR and (1)H NMR spectroscopy. Antibacterial activity of these complexes against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus has been investigated. The most active antibacterial agents against E. coli were [Rh(2)Cl(2)(mu-OOCR)(2)(N-N)(2)] and [Rh(2)(mu-OOCR)(2)(N-N)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](RCOO)(2) {R = H and Me} which were considerably more active than the appropriate nitrogen ligands. The complexes show low activity against S. aureus. The activity of the complexes [Rh(2)(OOCR)(2)(N-N)(2)(H(2)O)(2)](OOCR)(2) against E. coli decreases in the series: R=H congruent withCH(3)>C(2)H(5)>C(3)H(7) congruent withC(4)H(9). The reverse order was found in the case of S. aureus.

[Effect of the bile and bile acids on the motility of the innervated rabbit colon]. / Wplyw zólci i kwasów zólciowych na motoryke unerwionej okreznicy królika.

The studies have been carried out in vitro on the colons of 25 rabbits. The material was collected according to the Garry and Gillespie technique. The preparations consisted of the distal region of the colon together with the branches of parasympathetic nerves (pelvic ones) and with the sympathetic nerve (hypogastric). The conductivity was studied by the method of stimulation of these nerves branches with the 10 V impulses, 5 s long frequency 50-100 Hz, every 2-4 minutes. Spontaneous colon motoricity was registered on the kymograph in the chamber with oxyzenized Krebs fluid, according to the Magnus method. 0.3-10.0 ml of the bile per 1 l of the Krebs fluid was administered to the chamber. The same quantities of the physiological salt solution were administered to the chamber as the control. As for the chemically pure biliary acids, the cholic, deoxycholic and chenodeoxycholic acids (Light) were administered in quantities 500-1500 mumoles/l of the Krebs solution, as well as litocholic acid (Serva) in the concentration 300-500 mumoles/l. The control was carried out exactly as previously described. It has been found out that bile can inhibit or stimulate the colon motoricity and the nerves conductivity, depending on its concentration. At the small concentration (0.3 ml/l of the Krebs fluid) the bile stimulated the spontaneous colon motoricity and the conductivity of the sympathetic as well as the parasympathetic nerves. The high concentration (10 ml/l) had the inhibition effect on the colon motoricity and suppressed the nerves conductivity. As for the biliary acids, the strongest inhibitory effect had the litocholic acid, the weaker inhibitory effect had the cholic and deoxycholic acids. The chenodeoxycholic acid suppressed the nerves conductivity but stimulated the colon motoricity and increased the constriction amplitude.