Aerosol Survival of Escherichia Coli B Disseminated from the Dry State
Abstract
Survival was determined for Escherichia coli B disseminated as an aerosol from the dry state. Survival in nitrogen, like that for wet dissemination, was better at low than at high relative humidity (RH). At high RH, survival was characterized by critical zones of instability as a function of RH; instability occurred at 100, 95, 78, 70 and 60% RH. In air, percentage survival was less than that in nitrogen at low RH; the reverse was found at high RH. The effect was attributed to oxygen. In general, results support the conclusion that, at first glance, survival is related to bacterial water content, the latter increasing with RH. However, a more detailed analysis of results indicates that survival might not be exactly related to bacterial water content. It is shown that death occurred as a result of rehydration and that treatment of E. coli B before aerosolization affected its aerosol stability characteristics.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0862996
Entities
People
- Christopher S. Cox