Chlorine Inactivation of Elizabethkingia spp. in Water

Abstract

We performed chlorine inactivation experiments for Elizabethkingia anophelis and E. meningoseptica bacterial strains from clinical and environmental sources. Free chlorine concentration × contact time values <0.04 mg·min/L achieved 99.9% inactivation of Elizabethkingia species, indicating chlorine susceptibility. Measures to control biofilm producing pathogens in plumbing are needed to prevent Elizabethkingia bacterial infections.

Keywords

• Disinfection
• halogenation
• biofilms
• Flavobacteriaceae
• opportunistic infections
• disease outbreaks