The effect of heat-shock on total viable counts of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from wounds and exposed to various photochemical and disinfectant agents

Abstract

Four strains of Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from patients hospitalized in Saddam teaching hospital of Tikrit. The strains before and after laser irradiation were exposed to heat-shock at 44, 50, 55 and 60 co and the total viable counts were determined.
The present study showed that high populations were completely destroyed at 60 co for 30 min. The synergistic effect of laser irradiation plus heat is might be due to the inability of cells to repair radiation damage because heating inactivates repair enzymes.