Characterization of Mycoplasma aerosols as to viability, particle size, and lethality of ultraviolet irradiation.

Kundsin, Ruth B. (Harvard Medical School, Boston, Mass.). Characterization of Mycoplasma aerosols as to viability, particle size, and lethality of ultraviolet irradiation. J. Bacteriol. 91:942-944. 1966.-Viable aerosols of four strains of Mycoplasma: M. hominis II, M. pharyngis, M. pneumoniae, and an undetermined strain recovered from a lung at autopsy were dispersed, and the particle size was determined. The median diameter of the droplet nuclei ranged from 1.5 to 3.1 mu. M. pharyngis had a dieaway constant k of 0.008, indicating a survival potential of 6 hr from 10,000 colony-forming units at 23% relative humidity. Ultraviolet irradiation destroyed over 99% of the aerosols of all four strains concurrently with spraying. The particle size and viability of the droplet nuclei carrying Mycoplasma were consistent with the theory of airborne transmission of lower respiratory-tract infection.