Recovery and Origin of Subsurface Microbiological Contamination from an Acrylic Latex Coating

Abstract

This study investigated the potential subsurface retention of microbes including foodborne pathogens by coatings applied to poultry processing plant walls and ceilings. Recovery and origin of subsurface microbial contamination of an acrylic latex coating in a simulated poultry processing plant environment with or without sanitation were examined in this study. When acrylic latex coatings were inoculated in combination with sanitation, aerobic plate counts (APC) were not significantly (P>.05) different among three different sanitizing materials. The average APC recovered from acrylic latex-coated concrete blocks was significantly (P < .05) higher than acrylic latex-coated glass plates.These data indicate that a chemical sanitizer did not affect the subsurface contamination of acrylic coating and the niche for bacteria in the subsurface of acrylic latex-coated concrete block appears to be the junction between the acrylic latex matrix and the surface of the concrete block rather than the internal space of the acrylic latex matrix.