Abstract
M.Tech. (Chiropractic)
Purpose: This research study was to determine the bacterial survival of bacterial strains associated with human infections on vinyl chiropractic treatment beds, with and without disinfection.
Method: Bacterial survival kinetics was used to determine the effect of natural, versus disinfection related die-off of the bacteria on vinyl chiropractic treatment beds.
Procedure: The study made use of three portable, vinyl chiropractic treatment beds, that was placed in an isolated room on campus. These beds were divided into six blocks using masking tape, signifying the three interventions tested and their controls. The blocks were further divided into four blocks, for the four time intervals tested. Four bacterial strains, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were applied to the beds, one strain per day, water, alcohol and a soap based product was used to clean and disinfect three of the blocks, the others were used as a control and to monitor the natural die-off of the strains. All data were recorded by the researcher and analysed by Statkon.
Results: The results indicated that there is no observable decrease in bacterial numbers over a six-hour period if no intervention is applied to the beds. The study also showed that alcohol and Distel are both equally effective disinfectants for vinyl chiropractic treatment beds. Both of them proved to cause a three-log10 reduction within five minutes, with no bacterial growth in six hours.
Conclusion: Alcohol and Distel both proved to be effective disinfectants on these types of beds. Since there is no observable decrease of bacterial numbers over six hours, a cleaning and disinfection protocol for the vinyl chiropractic treatment beds is important to lower the risk of infection of...