Posted by:
caz223
at Tue Sep 16 01:43:53 2008 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by caz223 ]
What's really funny is the required PPE mandated for use in a lab when handling bleach: GOGGLES & SHIELD; LAB COAT & APRON; VENT HOOD; PROPER GLOVES. Nobody would seriously require all that for scrubbing bubbles.
The downside of quats is that it's ineffective against spores and Gram negative bacteria, so it's not as broad-spectrum as bleach, and it requires a bit longer contact time.
(Ripped from wikipedia.)
The proteobacteria are a major group of Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and other Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, Moraxella, Helicobacter, Stenotrophomonas, Bdellovibrio, acetic acid bacteria, Legionella and alpha-proteobacteria as Wolbachia and many others. Other notable groups of Gram-negative bacteria include the cyanobacteria, spirochaetes, green sulfur and green non-sulfur bacteria.
Medically relevant Gram-negative cocci include three organisms, which cause a sexually transmitted disease (Neisseria gonorrhoeae), a meningitis (Neisseria meningitidis), and respiratory symptoms (Moraxella catarrhalis).
Medically relevant Gram-negative bacilli include a multitude of species. Some of them primarily cause respiratory problems (Hemophilus influenzae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Legionella pneumophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa), primarily urinary problems (Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Enterobacter cloacae, Serratia marcescens), and primarily gastrointestinal problems (Helicobacter pylori, Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella typhi).
(Ripped from wikipedia.)
So, bleach is much more broad spectrum than scrubbing bubbles, and if you note any health problems or anything unusual you should switch to bleach again. I should also note that hot, soapy water wouldn't protect against any of those bacti, either. This again underscores the fact that you shouldn't be cleaning reptile equipment in food prep locations, no matter the mode of sanitation you use.
The use of a agent like quats is immensely preferable to hot soapy water, on routine cleaning, but I'd still recommend a good bleach scrub every now and then, no matter what your views on it. It works, and I've yet to meet the bacti, yeast, mold, viruses or fungi that would develop an immunity to it.
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