[Changes in the electro-orientation of Escherichia coli cells exposed to disinfectants]

Various disinfectants were shown to influence the frequency dependence of Escherichia coli electro-orientation. Cell inactivation by different agents was found to decrease the effect at high frequencies (5 X 10(5)-5 X 10(6) Hz). The decrease should be attributed to the fact that the barrier properties of membranes are disorganized and the equivalent electric conductivity of cells drops down. The microbiological control of the bactericidal action produced by disinfectants fits in well with changes in the electro-orientation of bacterial cells at these frequencies.