Figure 4. A second application of germinant solution enhances the reduction of Clostridium difficile spores on environmental surfaces.

Two sets of stainless steel carriers (1cm²) were placed on a hospital bedside table and inoculated with 6 log₁₀ colony forming units (CFU) of C. difficile VA17 (A) and VA11 (B). Both sets of carriers were sprayed until uniformly wet with test solutions and allowed to air dry. After 24 hours of incubation at room temperature, 1 set of carriers was collected and the log₁₀CFU of viable and germinated spores was determined. The second set of carriers was exposed to another uniform application of test solutions and allowed to air dry, then 24 hours post application the spores were recovered from the carriers and the log₁₀CFU of viable and germinated spores was determined. The means of triplicate data from 2 experiments are presented (N = 6). Error bars indicate standard error.