Varidyn Lunch & Learn

Bacterial Spore Elimination: A Formidable Challenge in Microbial Control

Welcome to a Varidyn “Lunch and Learn”.? We wanted to go a little deeper into spores today, in hopes of teaching the "why" behind using certain disinfectants.

The eradication of bacterial spores remains one of the most daunting tasks in microbial control, presenting significant challenges for EVS staff as they turn over a patient room. Spores - resilient structures formed by certain bacterial species as a survival mechanism - exhibit remarkable resistance to a wide array of environmental stressors and antimicrobial agents. The endospores, in particular, possess a multi-layered structure that acts as a nearly-impenetrable fortress, shielding the bacterial genetic material from harsh conditions such as extreme temperatures, desiccation, and chemical assault.

In other words, using a regular ol’ disinfectant wipe may not kill everything on your surface.? It could be a false sense of security against the strongest germs.

You’ve no doubt heard the term “C. diff”.? This bacteria (Clostridioides difficile) creates a spore that survives all but the best cleaning and disinfection.? And when it hits the mouth of someone who touched a contaminated surface, the spore is swallowed and wakes up!? It enters a vegetative state – meaning that it grows and reproduces – creating toxins and infecting tissues of the person’s intestinal tract, causing life-threatening diarrhea.

Interestingly, while bacterial spores are often considered the pinnacle of microbial resistance, certain fungal species can rival their tenacity. Although fungal spores are generally more susceptible to broad-spectrum bactericides than bacterial endospores, they still pose significant challenges in contamination control. The resilience of both bacterial and fungal spores necessitates the use of specialized sporicidal agents.

The main points to consider when using sporicidal chemicals are:

1.?????? Contact time – How long should the surface stay wet in order to kill the pathogen you’re targeting?

2.?????? Concentration – Is the sporicidal pre-mixed and ready to use?? If so, is it within it’s expiration date?

3.?????? Concentration – if the sporicidal comes as a solid, has it been mixed with the correct concentration to yield sporicidal power??

4.?????? Surface compatibility – Using bleach (sodium hypochlorite) can quickly destroy surfaces.? A better solution is dichlor, aka Green Klean, aka Sodium Dichlorosisocyanurate Dihydrate, aka Sodium Dichloro-s-Triazinetrione.? This is the sporicidal that Varidyn provides as one solution to people who need it. It is gentler on surfaces. (As an aside, it's also used in swimming pools - killing germs but saving the colors in your swimsuit!)

We hope you enjoyed this Lunch and Learn!? We’ll do them periodically, so be sure you’re following our Varidyn page.?

And if you have any questions, please send us a message!? We love chatting and solving problems!

-Varidyn