Evaluation of bacterial survival on inert surfaces in a hyperbaric environment

Article Article scientifique Article Evaluation of bacterial survival on inert surfaces in a hyperbaric environment eng 2025-09-30 author Hendier Laetitia France Internal Medicine Department, University of Geneva Hospitals, Switzerland.,Corresponding author: Dr Laetitia Hendier, Internal Medicine Department, The University of Geneva Hospitals, rue Gabrielle-Perret-Gentil 4, 1202 Geneva, Switzerland, ORCiD: 0009-0000-2276-4712, laetitia.hendier@hcuge.ch. 778729 author Soule Hervé Infection Control Programme and WHO Collaborating Centre on Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention and Control, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. author Abbas Mohamed Infection Control Programme and WHO Collaborating Centre on Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention and Control, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. 528404 Département de médecine (DEMED) author Pittet Didier Infection Control Programme and WHO Collaborating Centre on Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Prevention and Control, University of Geneva Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. 117792 Décanat et administration de la faculté de médecine (ADMED) author Pignel Rodrigue Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Unit, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 818281 author Boet Sylvain 0000-0002-1679-818X Diving and Hyperbaric Medicine Unit, Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Anaesthesiology, Clinical Pharmacology, Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland. 413164 Département d'anesthésiologie, pharmacologie et soins intensifs (APSIC) 231-235 10.28920/dhm55.3.231-235 40986918 1833-3516 https://www.dhmjournal.com/index.php/journals?view=article&id=363 Introduction: Surface cleaning and hand hygiene within hyperbaric chambers are challenging because of the risk of fire with currently used products containing alcohol or glycerine. This study aimed to investigate if hyperbaric conditions could have inhibitory effects on bacteria present on inert materials. Methods: We deposited Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) on inert materials in an experimental chamber (Comex1200Alu) and compressed the chamber environment with air (253 kPa, 95 minutes) (referred to as indoor). The control was contaminated materials placed outside the chamber (referred to as outdoor). We chose inert materials including plastic, metal, and seat upholstery (imitation leather). We measured bacterial growth and survival and compared the groups using a Student's t-test. Results: Regardless of the surface types tested, there were no significant differences in bacterial reduction between indoor and outdoor conditions for either E. coli or S. aureus and any of the materials (P > 0.05). Conclusions: We found that pressurised air (253 kPa for 95 minutes) has neither proliferative nor bactericidal action on S. aureus and E. coli colonies deposited on inert surfaces compared to those present outside a hyperbaric chamber in normobaric air conditions. Bacteria Hyperbaric oxygen Infection control Microbiology Pressure chamber Safety Escherichia coli / growth & development Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development Hyperbaric Oxygenation Microbial Viability Surface Properties Plastics Humans Dewey 616 Dewey 617 63 Département d'anesthésiologie, pharmacologie, soins intensifs et urgences 229 56 Département de médecine 221 false Diving and hyperbaric medicine 55 3 dbc1cbf1-dfd6-4c8e-b20e-d374991c3a90 Article (Published version) Restricted 10570250170005502.pdf 210638 application/pdf cb3cd5a7aee57f50082b12a70b55d631550ddc78629f1bb8a4f67f76e2acd7b2 restrictedAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département d'anesthésiologie, pharmacologie, soins intensifs et urgences Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de médecine

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Evaluation of bacterial survival on inert surfaces in a hyperbaric environment	Diving and hyperbaric medicine			2025	29	0

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