Journal Scan: Efficacy of commercial disinfectants against ringworm

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Why they did it

These researchers set out to determine the efficacy of eight over-the-counter disinfectants at killing the dermatophytes Microsporum canis and Trichophyton mentagrophytes.

What they did

The researchers prepared suspensions of material collected from infected untreated kittens. Sterile distilled water and a 1:10 sodium hypochlorite solution were used as controls.

Briefly, the researchers wet sterile gauze pads with infective solution, allowed them to dry, sprayed disinfectant onto the contaminated pads, allowed them to dry again, and then pressed the pads onto fungal culture plates and incubated them. In addition, the infective suspension was combined in a glass tube with each disinfectant in a 1:10 ratio, incubated for 10 minutes, and then spread on a fungal culture plate. Testing was performed in triplicate for each product. Efficacy was assessed based on inhibition of fungal growth.

What they found

The researchers found that all products were effective after 10 minutes of contact time and five sprays (about 5 ml) of product. Four products did not inhibit growth completely after only one spray (1 ml) but were 100% effective when a larger volume was used.

Take-home message

Commercial disinfectants labeled for use against dermatophytes are as effective as sodium hypochlorite if the surface is properly cleaned and manufacturers’ recommendations are followed.

Moriello KA, Kunder D, Hondzo H. Efficacy of eight commercial disinfectants against Microsporum canis and Trichophyton spp. infective spores on an experimentally contaminated textile surface. Vet Dermatol 2013;24:621-623.

Link to abstract: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/vde.12074/abstract