Antimicrobial effect of pine core wood against organisms causing hospital-acquired infections

Abstract number: 1134_02_319

Strehlein M., Wirmer J., Schmidt-Eisenlohr E., Mlangeni D., Daschner F.D.

Objective:

To compare the antimicrobial efficacy before and after disinfection of pine core wood surfaces with surfaces made of polyethylene and synthetic laminate against organisms typically causing hospital-acquired infections.

Methods:

S. aureus (MRSA), E. faecium, E. coli, P. aeruginosa. C.albicans, M. terrae and P camembertii were uses as test organisms. After inoculation of the test organisms on surfaces made of pine core wood, polypropylene and synthetic laminate, samples were collected on RODAC plates before and after disinfection with commonly used hospital germicides (alcohol, aldehyde, glucoprotamine and a quaternary ammonium compound). Bacterial colonies were counted after 0 min, 30min, 1 h, 4 h and 24 h, respectively, according to a standardised microbiological method.

Results:

Substantially lower colony counts were measured on pine core wood surfaces before application of the disinfectant compared with counts on polypropylene and synthetic laminate surfaces. After bacterial contamination of the surfaces, significant colony counts were not observed on the surfaces after disinfection with alcohol, aldehyde and glucoprotamine. However, after disinfection with a quaternary ammonium compound, significant elevations in colony counts were found on the pine core wood surfaces in comparison to the polypropylene and synthetic laminate surfaces.

Discussion:

The poor efficacy of quaternary ammonium compound on wooden material might be explained by the interaction between wood and the anionic polyphenols and cationic surfactants contained in the disinfectant.

Conclusion:

The study findings corroborate the antimicrobial effect of pine core wood against organisms typically causing nosocomial infections. With the exception of a quaternary compound, all the germicides displayed good disinfecting properties. From a hygienic point of view, pine core wood is suitable for use in hospitals.