Interventions for control of Salmonella: Clearance of microbial growth from rubber picker fingers

Abstract

A study was conducted to determine if a surface material with antimicrobial properties combined with an effective disinfectant could achieve total clearance of bacterial contamination. Before beginning the project, new rubber picker fingers collected from 3 processing facilities were tested for endogenous microflora. Five species of bacteria common to soil and human handling were present: Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus cereus/thuringiensis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis ssp. novobiosepticus, and Staphylococcus intermedius. In separate experiments, new (unused) rubber picker fingers from 3 manufacturers were exposed to broiler carcass rinses, and the kinetics of bacterial attachment to finger material was determined. Turbidity of the bacterial suspensions at varying dilutions containing picker finger sections was compared hourly with controls to evaluate inhibition. New rubber finger material from the 3 manufacturers significantly inhibited bacterial growth (P < 0.05), without the aid of antibacterial additives. We improved an assay for screening disinfectants against growth of pathogens and determined the activity of 5 disinfectant compounds. Two of the compounds were most effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella Enteritidis, and Escherichia coli, and one of the compounds was selected for further study with Salmonella Enteritidis. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed the levels of Salmonella Enteritidis before and after treatment. The most effective compound was nontoxic and completely cleared Salmonella Enteritidis contamination from the rubber picker finger surface.

Salmonella biofilms: An overview on occurrence, structure, regulation and eradication

“…In addition, the efficiency of different commonly used disinfectants against Salmonella biofilms has been compared (Arnold & Yates, 2009;Joseph et al, 2001;Korber, Choi, Wolfaardt, Ingham, & Caldwell, 1997;Mangalappalli-Illathu & Korber, 2006;MangalappalliIllathu, Vidovic, & Korber, 2008;Moretro et al, 2009;Ramesh et al, 2002;Somers, Schoeni, & Wong, 1994;Tabak et al, 2007;Wong, Townsend, Fenwick, Trengove, & O'Handley, 2010). Joseph et al found that Salmonella biofilms on plastic, cement and stainless steel surfaces are much more resistant to the sanitizers chlorine and iodine as compared to planktonic cells .…”

“…Several reports have demonstrated the ability of Salmonella strains to form biofilms on abiotic surfaces outside the host such as plastic (Hurrell, Kucerova, Loughlin, Caubilla-Barron, & Forsythe, 2009;Joseph, Otta, Karunasagar, & Karunasagar, 2001;Mireles, Toguchi, & Harshey, 2001;Stepanovic, Cirkovic, Ranin, & Svabic-Vlahovic, 2004;Vestby, Moretro, Langsrud, Heir, & Nesse, 2009), rubber (Arnold & Yates, 2009), cement , glass (Prouty & Gunn, 2003;Solano et al, 2002) and stainless steel (Giaouris & Nychas, 2006;Joseph et al, 2001;Moretro et al, 2009;Ramesh, Joseph, Carr, Douglass, & Wheaton, 2002), which are commonly encountered in farms, slaughter houses, food processing industry, kitchens, toilets and bathrooms. Joseph et al for example demonstrated the ability of S. Weltevreden to form biofilms on plastic (polyethylene), cement and stainless steel .…”

Bacterial Contaminants of Poultry Meat: Sources, Species, and Dynamics

“…Bacterial contamination by equipment surfaces can take place early in the process. For example, the rubber fingers used for feather removal or conveyor belts can be sources of bacterial contamination [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Even new rubber fingers can host bacteria and be a source of contamination for carcasses [ 19 ].…”

“…For example, the rubber fingers used for feather removal or conveyor belts can be sources of bacterial contamination [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Even new rubber fingers can host bacteria and be a source of contamination for carcasses [ 19 ]. Cross contamination between carcasses or cuts may occur by direct contact or through contact with contaminated surfaces [ 20 ].…”

Salmonella spp. in poultry: a constant challenge and new insights

“…In a number of experimental studies, the ability of Salmonella to form BF on a variety of materials such as concrete, glass (Prouty and Gunn, 2003), cement (Joseph et al, 2001), stainless steel (Oliveira et al, 2007), plastic (Stepanović et al, 2004;Solomon et al, 2005), granite and rubber (Arnold and Yates, 2009) was confirmed (Solano et al, 2002;Steenackers et al, 2012). Salmonella spp.…”