Halophilic bacteria susceptibility to peracetic acid vapor and ethylene oxide.

Extremely to slightly halophilic bacteria were tested for susceptibility to two sterilizing agents, peracetic acid (PAA) and ethylene oxide (ETO). PAA susceptibility was explored by two methods: an agar plate (constant pH of 7.2) and a filter strip (constant incubation period of 37 days); 100% susceptibility was obtained by both methods. The dosage (0.5 ml/min) was applied to a filter pad in a petri dish cover. Glove box experiments with ETO (input 1.5 lb. [ca. 680.4 g]/24 hr, the only constant) yielded 100% susceptibility for all halophiles tested. These experiments demonstrated the efficacy of two lethal agents for extreme halophiles, PAA and ETO. Variation in pH did not affect susceptibility.