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The effect of initial sonication on disinfectant efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes biofilm
, 1, 2, 1
Affiliations- Department of Microbiology, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, L. Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 9, 85-094 Bydgoszcz Bydgoszcz, Poland
- Department of Food Hygiene and Consumer Health, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, 31 C.K. Norwida St., 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
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Abstract
Background: Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive, foodborne pathogen. Biofilms formed by this
bacterium are a serious problem in the food industry. Bacteria in biofilms are much more resistant to cleaning
and disinfection agents posing a risk of food recontamination. The aim of this study was the assessment
of the influence of initial sonication on disinfectant efficacy, based on QAC, against L. monocytogenes
biofilm on the stainless steel.
Methods: The biofilm formed on the stainless steel by the reference strain L. monocytogenes ATCC 19111
was sonicated for 1 and 5 minutes (500W/ 20kHz/ 100% amplitude). Then disinfection with quaternary
ammonium compounds (0.5% working solution) was applied for 1 and 5 minutes and the number of
bacteria recovered from the biofilm was assessed.
Results: It was found that disinfection was more efficient than sonication (p ≤ 0.05). However, the combination
of sonication and disinfection significantly improved biofilm eradication compared to the use of
one of these methods separately (p ≤ 0.05). The greatest reduction of bacteria number was achieved after
5 minutes of sonication combined with 5 minutes of disinfection (6.42 log CFU × cm-2), whereas the lowest
reduction was observed after 1 minute-sonication (2.03 log CFU × cm-2).
Conclusions: Combination of sonication and disinfection based on quaternary ammonium compounds is
an effective method allowing biofilm eradication from the food production surfaces.
Abstract
Background: Listeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive, foodborne pathogen. Biofilms formed by this
bacterium are a serious problem in the food industry. Bacteria in biofilms are much more resistant to cleaning
and disinfection agents posing a risk of food recontamination. The aim of this study was the assessment
of the influence of initial sonication on disinfectant efficacy, based on QAC, against L. monocytogenes
biofilm on the stainless steel.
Methods: The biofilm formed on the stainless steel by the reference strain L. monocytogenes ATCC 19111
was sonicated for 1 and 5 minutes (500W/ 20kHz/ 100% amplitude). Then disinfection with quaternary
ammonium compounds (0.5% working solution) was applied for 1 and 5 minutes and the number of
bacteria recovered from the biofilm was assessed.
Results: It was found that disinfection was more efficient than sonication (p ≤ 0.05). However, the combination
of sonication and disinfection significantly improved biofilm eradication compared to the use of
one of these methods separately (p ≤ 0.05). The greatest reduction of bacteria number was achieved after
5 minutes of sonication combined with 5 minutes of disinfection (6.42 log CFU × cm-2), whereas the lowest
reduction was observed after 1 minute-sonication (2.03 log CFU × cm-2).
Conclusions: Combination of sonication and disinfection based on quaternary ammonium compounds is
an effective method allowing biofilm eradication from the food production surfaces.
Keywords
Listeria monocytogenes, biofilm, sonication, disinfectants, quaternary ammonium compounds
About this articleTitle
The effect of initial sonication on disinfectant efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes biofilm
Journal
Issue
Article type
Original article
Pages
85-88
Published online
2019-04-09
Page views
2873
Article views/downloads
1002
DOI
Bibliographic record
Medical Research Journal 2019;4(2):85-88.
Keywords
Listeria monocytogenes
biofilm
sonication
disinfectants
quaternary ammonium compounds
Authors
Natalia Wiktorczyk
Jakub Korkus
Krzysztof Skowron
Ewa Wałecka-Zacharska
Eugenia Gospodarek-Komkowska
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