Antimicrobial Efficacy of Hydogen Peroxide and Vinegar Combination

Objectives: To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar combination in planktonic growth and biofilm formation of C.albicans and S.aureus on acrylic resin.
Methods:
Strains of S.aureus and C.albicans were inoculated for planktonic growth in tubes and the following solutions (in volume/volume percent) were tested in triplicates: GP1: 50% vinegar + 50% hydrogen peroxide(HP); GP2: 25% vinegar + 75% HP; GP3: 75% vinegar + 25% HP; GP4: 50% vinegar + 50% water; GP5: 25% vinegar + 75% water; GP6: 75% vinegar + 25% water; GP7: 50% HP + 50% water; GP8 25% HP + 75% water; GP9: 75% HP + 25% water; GP10: water(control); GP11: 0.5% sodium hypochlorite(control); GP12: 0.2% peracetic acid(control). For the second experiment, 160 discs (30x5mm) were fabricated with heat-polymerized acrylic resin. C.albicans (n=80) and S.aureus (n=80) biofilms were separately formed on acrylic resin discs and the specimens were randomly immerged for 10 minutes in the following disinfection solutions (in volume/volume percent): GD1: 50% vinegar + 50% HP; GD2: 25% vinegar + 75% HP; GD3: 75% vinegar + 25% HP; GD4: vinegar; GD5: HP; GD6: water(control); GD7: 0.5% sodium hypochlorite(control) CD8: 0.2% peracetic acid(control). Disinfection efficacy was evaluated by counting the colony-forming-units. The results were compared using Kruskal-Wallis test, post-hoc Dunnet and ANOVA, post-hoc Tukey-test, with 5% significance.
Results: The mixture of hydrogen peroxide and vinegar, irrespective of the concentration applied, achieved zero C.albicans and S.aureus counts for planktonic growth (p<0.001). For C.albicans and S.aureus biofilm formation, disinfection with GD1 (p=0.000), GD2 (p=0.000) and GD3 (p=0.001) yielded negative microbial growth and were as effective as GD7 and GD8. Disinfection with GD5 also showed had negative bacterial counts for S.aureus.
Conclusions: The antimicrobial efficacy of the HP and vinegar combination is similar to the 0.2% peracetic acid solution and 0.5% sodium hypochlorite for C.albicans and S.aureus planktonic and biofilm growth.