Comparing bacterial, fungal, and human cell concentrations with rapid adenosine triphosphate measurements for indicating microbial surface contamination

Am J Infect Control. 2019 Jun;47(6):671-676. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2018.11.011. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Abstract

Background: The goal of this study was to test for associations between adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content and microbial concentrations on desk surfaces in school classrooms.

Methods: ATP bioluminescence and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) techniques were employed to measure total bacterial, fungal, and human cell concentrations on 66 high-traffic desks spread across 9 schools: 3 in Connecticut (CT) and 6 in Oklahoma (OK). In CT, 6 samples were taken from each desk, 1 precleaning and 5 postcleaning (after 30 minutes, 1 day, 3 days, 7 days, and 21 days). In OK, samples were taken immediately before and after cleaning each desk.

Results: Based on simple linear regression analyses, ATP values were good predictors of microbial concentrations (r = 0.8, P = .003) in both CT school postcleaning samples and OK pre- and postcleaning samples (r = 0.7, P = .00002). However, biomass reductions measured after cleaning were 1.5-2 times greater when measured by ATP than by qPCR (P = .007).

Conclusions: Overall, ATP bioluminescence measurements correlate with qPCR-based surface measurements on school desks but may overestimate the physical removal of bacteria and fungi due to cleaning.

Keywords: Allergens; Cleaning; Pathogens; qPCR.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / analysis*
  • Connecticut
  • Cytological Techniques / methods*
  • Decontamination / methods
  • Fomites / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Luminescent Measurements / methods*
  • Microbiological Techniques / methods*
  • Oklahoma
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / methods*
  • Schools

Substances

  • Adenosine Triphosphate