The Effects of Lysol on Living Bacteria

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The Effects of Lysol on Living Bacteria

• Ashley Pruitt
• Undergraduate Student
• Health Science Biology concentration
• Department of Biology
• Tennessee Technological University
• Cookeville, TN 38505

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Project Summary

• Problem Does Lysol actually live up to its
  claim, Kills 99.9 of bacteria,?
• Objective test effects of Lysol on bacteria.
• Hypothesis fewer bacteria on the Lysol-treated
  objects.
• Null no difference on the amount of bacteria
  before and after being treated with Lysol.

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Project Summary (contd.)

• Goal Prove Lysol is effective.
• Plans to accomplish test items before and after
  being treated with Lysol.
• Expected Results
• 1. Validate Lysols claim.
• 2. Reject Null Hypothesis.

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Introduction

• Will there actually be no bacteria on an item
  after being treated with Lysol?
• Lysol claims to kill 99.9 of all bacteria
  (Lysol.com).
• Benzalkonium chloride (BAK) biocide, the
  active ingredient in Lysol.
• Staphylococcus aureus has been proven to have
  affinity for BAK (Ahmed et al 2007).
• The responses of different types of
  microorganisms to antiseptics and disinfectants
  vary and result in microbiostatic or microbicidal
  effects (Alp 2007).

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Objective/Hypothesis (null)

• Objective test effects of Lysol on bacteria.
• Hypothesis fewer bacteria on the Lysol-treated
  objects.
• Null no difference in the amount of bacteria
  before and after being treated with Lysol.

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Methods and Materials

• Methods
• Collect samples with sterile cotton swabs
• Recollect samples-3 total for each
• Spray item with Lysol
• Transfer samples to TSA plates
• Incubate Plates for 48 hours
• Count bacteria and compare effects of Lysol

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Methods and Materials (contd.)

• Materials
• TSA plates
• Sterile cotton swabs
• Can of Lysol
• Items to test - reference
• Incubator

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Methods and Materials (contd.)

• Method of Data Processing - statistics
• 1) Average (mean-value) Tests
• 2) T-tests - assesses whether the means of two
  groups are statistically different from each
  other.
• Data Form.
• Matrix.

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Expected Results and Benefits

• Fewer bacteria present on Lysol-treated items.
• Validate Lysols claim, Kills 99.9 of all
  bacteria.
• Reassure consumers of Lysols effectiveness.
• Reject null hypothesis and accept original
  hypothesis.

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Project Timeline
See Project time-line, click here Time-line
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Budget

• See Project Budget, click here Budget.