British scientists from the University of Plymouth found that a common causative agent of diarrhea – the bacterium Clostridioides difficile (C. Diff) from the genus Clodistria – is practically resistant to disinfection with chlorine. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Microbiology.
The pathogen tolerates high concentrations of chlorine as easily as if purified with plain water without additives.
In the new paper, scientists examined the response of spores from three different strains of C. diff to three concentrations of sodium hypochlorite used in hospitals. The spores were then applied to surgical instruments and patient gowns and examined using electron microscopes to determine whether there were any morphological changes in the outer shell of the objects.
“This shows that we need disinfectants and recommendations that are fit for purpose and work in harmony with bacterial evolution. The lead author of the study, Dr. Tina Joshi said the study should have a significant impact on current disinfection protocols in medicine worldwide.
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