THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE AND RELATIVE-HUMIDITY ON THE SURVIVAL OF BACTERIA ATTACHED TO DRY SOLID-SURFACES

The effect of relative humidity (r.h.) (O%, 34% and 75%) and temperature (4, 15 and 25°C) on the desiccation survival of Pseudornonas sp., Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, a coryneform, Staphylococcus sp., and Staphylococcus aureus attached to and grown on glass surfaces was studied. The survival of Gram-negative and Gram-positive species was similar. Bacterial survival was shortest at 25°C for all species studied, and in most cases longest at 4°C. The effect of r.h. on survival varied with species. The number of microcolonies and the number of cells within microcolonies for Pseudomonas sp. increased on the dry surfaces after 7 d incubation under all desiccation conditions. © 1988 Oxford University Press. All rights reserved.