Effects of disinfectants on Campylobacter jejuni

Because of the increasing recognition that Campylobacter jejuni is an important enteric pathogen of humans, we studied the effects of widely used disinfectants on the viability of this organism. At an inoculum size of 10(3) to 10(4) CFU/ml, 1.25 mg of hypochlorite per liter killed three strains within 1 min. At an inoculum size of 10(6) to 10(7) CFU/ml, 5 mg of hypochlorite per liter killed three strains within 15 min. Killing of similar concentrations of C. jejuni and Escherichia coli by hypochlorite was approximately the same. At the high inoculum, 0.15% phenolic compound, 10 mg of iodophor per liter, 1:50,000 quaternary ammonium compound, 70% ethyl alcohol, and 0.125% glutaraldehyde killed all three strains within 1 min. These studies demonstrate that, under the conditions we tested (pH 7.0; 24 to 26 degrees C), the recommended standard concentrations of disinfecting agents are adequate to destroy C. jejuni.