Figure 1. Recovery of Clostridium difficile spores from an ex vivo porcine skin model is reduced after sensitizing spores with a single application of germinants.

Sections of porcine skin (1 cm²) were inoculated with 7 log₁₀ colony forming units (CFU) of C. difficile R20291 (A), VA17 (B), ATCC 43598 (C), and ATCC 43593 (D). Then 50 μL of test solution was applied once and rubbed into each skin section until absorbed. After 2 or 24 hours of incubation at room temperature, the spores were recovered from skin sections and the log₁₀CFU of viable and germinated spores was determined. The means of data from triplicate experiments are presented. Error bars indicate standard error.