The possibility that normal tissue constituents may be involved in the mechanism of resistance to infection with Bacillus anthracis was first considered in 1890. In that year Hankin reported the isolation of germicidal extracts from the spleen and lymphatic glands of cats. In 1893 Vaughn reported the preparation of germicidal extracts from spleen, brain, thyroid, and testicular tissue. His proc...

Public health concerns such as multi- and extensive drug-resistant tuberculosis, bioterrorism, pandemic influenza, and severe acute respiratory syndrome have intensified efforts to prevent transmission of infections that are completely or partially airborne using environmental controls. One such control, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI), has received renewed interest after decades of u...

A comprehensive treatment of the mathematical basis for modeling the disinfection process for air using ultraviolet germicidal irradiation (UVGI). A complete mathematical description of the survival curve is developed that incorporates both a two stage inactivation curve and a shoulder. A methodology for the evaluation of the three-dimensional intensity fields around UV lamps and within reflect...

Ortenzio, Opalsky, and Stuart (Appl. Microbiol. 9:562, 1961) presented data showing that phenates may kill bacteria in a different manner than the parent phenols, and that excess uncombined alkali in phenolic-type formulations has a much greater inactivating effect for gram-positive cocci than for gram-negative enteric bacteria. This study is a continuation of these investigations to determine ...

It has been stated recently (Hunter, 1943) that the ideal antiseptic should possess high germicidal and inhibitory properties over the widest possible range of the commoner pathogenic organisms, a low tissue toxicity, efficiency in the presence of organic matter, power to penetrate, stability, and moderate cost. In this country the commoner pathogenic organisms include a great number of mycotic...