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영어

Hypochlorous acid has very ideal condition such as powerful and broad sterilizing effect, easy accessibility, low price and high safety as a disinfectant. It can be applied by various ways, but the effect may vary depending on the method, so it is necessary to establish use standard for the maximized effect. In this study, we investigated the sterilizing effect of hypochlorous acid indoor environments contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus using fogging method. Hypochlorous acid water was classified two: Huureka-E generated by electrolysis [pH 5.4, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) 530, active chlorine concentration (ACC) 51], and Huureka-M produced by a mixing and dilution method (pH 5.5, ORP 913, ACC 53). Blood agar plate were put on the table 1 m high in an enclosed room, then hypochlorous acid was fogged up to 80% humidity, and S. aureus-diluted solution was sprayed three times on the air. The plate was moved for bacterial culture 0 min 30 min, 60 min, and 90 min after spraying bacteria. As a result of the bacterial culture, the growth inhibitory rate of Huureka-M was 92.2 ± 0.8%, 96.0 ± 0.6% and 97.4 ± 0.1% time-dependently (p < 0.001 vs. 0 minm, respectively), and that of Huureka-E was 66.1 ± 1.3%, 76.4 ± 2.4% and 98.2 ± 0.6% (p < 0.001 vs. 0 min, respectively). In confluence, the fogging of both electrolysis-type and mixing-type hypochlorous acid water showed highly satisfactory sterilizing power as a disinfectant. Since spraying or fogging is a highly effective application method for a large space, hypochlorous acid can be recommended to be utilized in the hospital, agriculture sector, livestock industry, public facilities, etc. Further study will be necessary to be standardized the sterilizing protocol according to the application method and ACC.