Persistence and Inactivation of Burkholderia mallei China 7 Deposited on Nonporous Laboratory Materials

This study evaluated the persistence of Burkholderia mallei China 7 deposited on glass, Hypalon rubber glove, and stainless steel, as well as inactivation with vaporous hydrogen peroxide fumigation of a ∼15-m3 chamber. A suspension of B mallei China 7 at ∼1 × 108 colony-forming units was dried on coupons of each test surface. One set of coupons was held at ∼20°C to 22°C and 40% to 55% relative humidity and sampled for viable B mallei at 1 hour, 16 to 18 hours, 4 days, and 7 days. A second set of coupons was subjected to vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide fumigation. For persistence of B mallei on all materials, a significant reduction in recoverable log10 colony-forming units was observed over the 7-day period, in which no growth was observed by day 4 for glass and day 7 for glove and stainless steel. For all materials subjected to vapor-phase hydrogen peroxide exposure, qualitative growth assessment (incubated for 7 days) showed complete inactivation of B mallei and biological indicators. The results indicate...