|
PRINT ISSN : 2319-7692
Online ISSN : 2319-7706 Issues : 12 per year Publisher : Excellent Publishers Email : editorijcmas@gmail.com / submit@ijcmas.com Editor-in-chief: Dr.M.Prakash Index Copernicus ICV 2018: 95.39 NAAS RATING 2020: 5.38 |
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of a natural and organic fogging solution, ZITRITIDE where Citrus aurantium Amara extract (Bioflavonoid Complex) acts as an active ingredient. The antimicrobial efficacy of the formulation at two different concentrations (0.2% and 0.5%) was assessed against eighteen bacteria, and four fungi prevalent in hospital and industrial environment. Both the concentration worked efficiently on gram positive, gram negative, spore forming anaerobic, and spore forming aerobic microorganisms. At 0.2% concentration Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) showed 2.43 log reduction and 2.05 log reduction respectively. Eleven bacteria of the group demonstrated 4 log reductions (99.99% killing efficiency) and 3 log reductions were achieved by four bacteria. At 0.5% product concentration 10 bacteria showed 99.99% killing efficiency with 4 log reduction value. The killing efficiency of the product for MRSA and Mycobacterium tuberculosis is 99% i.e. 2 log reduction at 0.5%. Antifungal activity at 0.2% and 0.5% concentration was highest for Aspergillus flavus with efficiency percent of 99.9999 i.e. 6 log reduction followed by Aspergillus niger (99.999), Penicillium species (99.99%) and Candida albicans (99.9%). Application of ZITRITIDE as a fumigant in clean room areas revealed 98%-100% reduction in bacterial count and 86%-100% reduction in fungal count in controlled areas and 80%-95% reduction in bacterial count and 89%-100% fungal count in uncontrolled areas. The ZITRITIDE was also fogged in hospital environment and found to be effective. The results demonstrated ZITRITIDE is quite effective in controlling hospital acquired infections (HAI). Being nontoxic and eco-friendly nature of the active ingredients, the advantage of ZITRITIDE over other chemical fumigant was that it can be fogged in the presence of personnel working in clean room areas and also in the presence of doctors, nurses, other clinical, non clinical professionals, patients, attendants, visitors and supporting staffs in hospitals.