Biocidal resistance of clostridium: resistance mechanisms and modern methods of overcoming it (review)

Clostridiosis caused by obligate anaerobes Cl. perfringens and Cl. difficile is a serious veterinary and medical problem due to the unique resistance of their spores to external influences and the ability to form biofilms. The main difficulty in combating these pathogens is their exceptional resistance to most disinfectants, which requires the development of specialized treatment protocols. The article presents data from recent studies on the optimization of disinfection protocols in livestock complexes and medical institutions. Also, the conducted literature analysis demonstrates that a limited range of chemical agents exhibit effective sporicidal activity. The highest efficiency in vitro and under industrial conditions was demonstrated by oxidizing agents: peracetic acid (PAA, 0,5-2%) and sodium hypochlorite (1-5%). A critically important factor was the use of mandatory preliminary mechanical cleaning of surfaces, since organic contaminants (proteins, fats) reduce the efficiency of disinfectants by 30-50%. Products based on quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) and hydrogen peroxide demonstrated insufficient efficiency against spores without a combination with thermal methods (autoclaving, steam). The resistance of clostridia is genetically determined and includes genes of antioxidant protection (sod, ahpC), sporulation (spo0A, sigK) and biofilm formation (luxS, eps). The article describes a comprehensive approach to combating clostridia – the use of effective sporicidal drugs (PAA, hypochlorites), strict adherence to a two-stage protocol (mechanical cleaning followed by chemical disinfection), and the introduction of regular microbiological monitoring to verify the quality of disinfection.

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