ISSN: 1546-962X
CODEN: JAIOAD
Published Online: 11 August 2011
Page Count: 5

Assessment of the Bacterial Contamination and Remediation Efficacy After Flooding Using Fluorometric Detection

Reeslev, Morten
PhD, Mycometer A/S,

Nielsen, Jan Clair
Mycometer A/S,

Rogers, Lisa
Mycometer, Inc.,

(Received 14 October 2010; accepted 15 July 2011)

Abstract

In the aftermath of flooding, rapid response assessment and cleanup is critical to recovery. In this study, the level of contamination of bacteria on surfaces in flooded houses was estimated and compared to the level found on surfaces in non-flooded houses with a rapid field test based on hydrolase enzyme activity present in bacteria and by measuring endotoxin. Sampling was performed by swabbing a 9 cm² area using sterile cotton swabs wetted with a bacteriostatic buffer. A correlation between endotoxin levels and levels of hydrolase activity was seen (R²= 0.6469, P < 0.0001). The median value and the variance ofthe result distribution were higher in flooded buildings as compared to non-flooded buildings. In the non-flooded buildings, surfaces were divided into visually clean and visually dirty. As expected the level of bacteria was higher on the visually dirty surfaces, and overall the hydrolase activity correlated well with the visual inspection. Using the results from the visually clean surfaces in the reference buildings as the criteria for clean, four methods of cleaning were tested for their ability to reach these criteria.

Keywords:
bacteria, hydrolase activity, flooding, endotoxin, post remediation verification, cleaning

Paper ID: JAI103482
DOI: 10.1520/JAI103482
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