The survival of bacterial in dust. IV. Atmospheric humidity and the bactericidal action of ultra-violet irradiation

Abstract

The bactericidal effect of ultra-violet radiation on dried films of β-haemolytic streptococci has been shown to be dependent both on the relative humidity and on the nature of the suspending medium from which the films are prepared. In particular, while the bactericidal action is most often more repaid under dry conditions, films prepared from suspensions in dust extract culture show a similar behaviour to that of naturally occurring dust flora and are most resistant to the effects of radiation under dry conditons.