Quantification of acid-base interactions based on contact angle measurement allows XDLVO predictions to attachment of Campylobacter jejuni but not Salmonella

► Bacterial attachment to stainless steel and XDLVO theory predictions were compared. ► Attachment of the three Campylobacter strains could be predicted by XLDVO. ► Attachment of the three Salmonella strains could not be predicted by XLDVO. ► Salmonella strains differed from each other in acid-base interactions but not contact angles. ► Differences in outcomes from these techniques are critical in predicting bacterial attachment.