Insights into the Disinfection, Inactivation and Sterilization of Pathogens and Biotoxins

A special issue of Microorganisms (ISSN 2076-2607). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health Microbiology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 September 2026 | Viewed by 287

Editor

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In the sustained global effort to combat infectious disease, the effective disinfection, inactivation and sterilization of a wide range of pathogens, including bacteria, viruses and fungi, as well as biotoxins such as endotoxins and exotoxins, remain critically important.

The Special Issue aims to present a focused platform for explaining inactivation mechanisms and translating disinfection technologies into practical use in the field of microbial and toxin control. In it, the focus will shift from introducing emerging technologies to elucidating their mechanisms, evaluating their performance and describing real-world implementation, while also presenting applied microbiology-oriented studies that address challenges in clinical, food, environmental and veterinary fields.

We invite contributions that explore (1) recent advances in chemical, physical and biological disinfection methods, including innovative approaches for pathogen inactivation and biotoxin degradation; (2) the efficacy, mechanisms and practical applications of new disinfectants, including studies on microbial survival, biofilm-associated resistance and microbial adaptation and tolerance to disinfection or sterilization processes; (3) the integration of cutting-edge technologies such as nanotechnology, bioinformatics and materials science into conventional practices; (4) technologies aimed at the safety of medical devices and environmental issues, as well as food safety.

This Special Issue invites original articles and reviews that not only present current advances and practical insights but also stimulate discussion on how to reduce the risk of microbial and biotoxin contamination through mechanism-based optimization and evidence-driven application of disinfection and sterilization strategies. In particular, applied microbiology-based studies that integrate laboratory findings with field or industrial applications are encouraged. Lastly, contributions are welcomed that identify knowledge gaps, formulate new research questions and establish collaborative networks to drive future innovations in the field toward more effective, rapid and safer disinfection, inactivation and sterilization of specific microorganisms and biotoxins.

Prof. Dr. Akikazu Sakudo
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • advanced disinfection methods
  • applied microbiology
  • biofilms
  • biotoxin degradation
  • disinfection technologies
  • microbial resistance
  • pathogen inactivation
  • public health
  • sterilization techniques

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

20 pages, 10761 KB  
Article
Effectiveness of Hydrogen Peroxide Nebulization Combined with Manual Cleaning in Reducing Surface-Associated Microorganisms in an Indoor Fitness Environment
by Alexander Martens, Mohamad Motevalli, Markus Schauer, Susanne Mair and Brigitte König
Microorganisms 2026, 14(8), 1821; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms14081821 - 18 Aug 2026
Abstract
Fitness centers represent high-contact environments where microorganisms can accumulate and persist on shared surfaces. This study aimed to investigate bacterial contamination dynamics on gym equipment and evaluate the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) nebulization combined with preceding professional manual [...] Read more.
Fitness centers represent high-contact environments where microorganisms can accumulate and persist on shared surfaces. This study aimed to investigate bacterial contamination dynamics on gym equipment and evaluate the effects of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) nebulization combined with preceding professional manual cleaning on the recovery of viable surface-associated microorganisms. A two-phase investigation was conducted in a commercial fitness facility. Repeated environmental sampling was performed on 12 gym devices over five consecutive days at three daily timepoints (morning, midday, evening), followed by a pre–post assessment of the combined terminal decontamination procedure. All isolates were recovered using culture-based methods and identified by MALDI TOF MS. Species were classified by ecological origin, and persistence, diversity, and intervention effects were quantified using ecological metrics. Statistical analyses were performed in R. Across all samples, 248 isolates representing 61 species were detected, with the recovered isolates predominantly belonging to skin-associated families including Micrococcaceae (25.4%), Staphylococcaceae (24.2%), and Moraxellaceae (22.2%). Routine cleaning with an alcohol-based cleaner produced only modest reductions in recovered bacterial isolate counts (p = 0.173), with 68% of environmental species no longer recovered after routine cleaning, whereas 93% of skin-associated species remained detectable following routine cleaning. In contrast, the terminal decontamination procedure consisting of professional manual cleaning followed by H2O2 nebulization resulted in 88% of detected species no longer being recovered after treatment, with no Gram-negative species recovered in post-treatment cultures, while only three Gram-positive species (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, and Dietzia cinnamea) continued to be recovered after treatment. Contamination levels and persistence patterns varied markedly across devices. Gym equipment surfaces repeatedly yielded predominantly human-derived communities of recoverable viable bacteria despite routine cleaning. The combined terminal decontamination procedure produced greater reductions in recoverable bacterial species than routine overnight cleaning under the conditions evaluated, supporting further investigation of this combined intervention as a supplemental terminal decontamination strategy for high-traffic fitness environments. Full article
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