Comparing the susceptibility to sanitizers, biofilm-forming ability, and biofilm resistance to quaternary ammonium and chlorine dioxide of 43 Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes strains

Abstract

This study determined the susceptibility to sanitizers and biofilm-forming ability on stainless steel of 43 Salmonella enterica and Listeria monocytogenes strains. Besides, the biofilm resistance to sanitizers of four bacterial pathogen strains was evaluated. Four sanitizers commonly used in the food industry were tested: peracetic acid (PAA), chlorine dioxide (ClO2), sodium hypochlorite (SH), and quaternary ammonium compound (QAC). The susceptibility to sanitizers varied widely among the strains of both pathogens. On the other hand, the number of biofilm-associated cells on the stainless-steel surface was >5 log CFU/cm2 for all of them. Only one Salmonella strain and two L. monocytogenes strains stood out as the least biofilm-forming. The resistance of biofilms to sanitizers also varied among strains of each pathogen. Biofilms of L. monocytogenes were more susceptible to the disinfection process with ClO2 and QAC than those of Salmonella. However, no correlation was observed between the ability to form denser biofilm and increased sanitizer resistance. In general, chlorine compounds were more effective than other sanitizers in inactivating planktonic cells and biofilms.