A model system for evaluating surface disinfection in dairy factory environments

Area of Science:

• Food Safety
• Microbiology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Biofilms in dairy factories pose challenges for hygiene.
• Effective disinfection is crucial for preventing bacterial contamination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a model system for assessing disinfectant efficacy on dairy factory biofilms.
• To evaluate the performance of various disinfectants against mixed bacterial biofilms.

Main Methods:

• A model system using dairy factory floor tiles and mixed bacterial biofilms was established.
• Disinfectants (hypochlorite, peroxyacetic acid, acid anionic, QUAT) were tested over multiple cleaning cycles.
• Bacterial counts were enumerated using selective agar media.

Main Results:

• All tested disinfectants significantly reduced bacterial counts on surfaces.
• Peroxyacetic acid (3.0%) demonstrated the highest overall bacterial reduction.
• Disinfectants exhibited selective activity against specific bacterial groups (e.g., hypochlorite against coliforms).
• Selective biocidal activity was maintained over three cleaning cycles for hypochlorite and acid anionic disinfectants.
• Different floor materials showed varying susceptibility to biofilm formation and inactivation.

Conclusions:

• The developed model system is effective for evaluating disinfectant efficacy against biofilms in dairy environments.
• Disinfectants can selectively target and reduce specific bacterial populations.
• Surface material influences biofilm development and disinfectant effectiveness.
• The model system is versatile for further research on cleaning and disinfection strategies.