Effects of microwave radiation on the survival of staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157 : H7 in health care waste

Abstract EN

This study confirms that microwave treatment of healthcare waste can significantly reduce the number of bacteria in a given sample efficiently.

The bacterial reduction with time of application of radiation and radiation power has been quantified.

In contrast to the previous experiments that showed, the temperatures of mid 30 °C favouring the growth of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli O157:H7, this study depicts that the bacteria are destroyed even at such temperatures when the microwave radiation is applied.

Thus, it confirms that power of microwaves is an equally dominating factor as the time and the temperature.

The findings indicate that there is a marked difference in the resistance against microwave radiation between G+ (S.

aureus) and G- (E.

coli) bacteria, which may due to the convoluted cell wall of G+ (S.

aureus) bacteria.

Thus, S.

aureus is considered to be more resistant to microwave radiation than E.

coli.

O157:H7.

The outcomes support the adoption of microwave technologies for the treatment and disinfection of health care waste.