Self-contained chlorine dioxide generation and delivery pods for decontamination of floor drainsce:

Abstract

SUMMARY Listeria monocytogenes can be present in poultry processing and further processing plants, where it can colonize floor drains. This is a concern as the potential exists for cross-contamination of product contact surfaces or even fully cooked product. Self-contained chlorine dioxide-generating and delivery pods were tested as a means to sanitize uninoculated floor drains and L. monocytogenes-inoculated model floor drains. Free-swimming and attached bacteria were enumerated in drains. Standing water and the inner surface of treated drains had significantly lower bacterial numbers than did untreated drains. Listeria monocytogenes numbers decreased by up to 8.7 log cfu/mL in standing water (>99.999999%) and 6.7 log cfu (>99.9999%) as attached cells. Commercially available chlorine dioxide pods may have practical utility for killing L. monocytogenes during periodic sanitization of floor drains in poultry processing facilities.