Comparison of inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes within a biofilm matrix using chlorine dioxide gas, aqueous chlorine dioxide and sodium hypochlorite treatments

The present research compared the effect of chlorine dioxide (CD) gas, aqueous CD and aqueous sodium hypochlorite (SHC) treatments on the inactivation of a five strain mixture of Listeria monocytogenes – containing biofilms. Four day old biofilms were developed on a stainless steel (SS 304) coupon by using a mixture of five cultures of L. monocytogenes (Scott A, N1-227, 103M, 82 and 311) using a 100% relative humidity (RH) dessicator for incubation at room temperature (22 ± 2 °C). After biofilm development, coupons were rinsed and dried for 2 h and treated with 0.3 mg/l CD gas at 75% RH, 7 mg/l of aqueous CD and 50 mg/l SHC. Initial log10 population of biofilm cells before CD gas, aqueous CD and SHC treatment was 4.80, 5.09 and 4.95 log10 CFU/cm2. The Weibull model was used to fit non-linear survivor curves. Treatments and time points of 0.3 mg/l CD gas and 7 mg/l aq. CD solution were significantly different (p < 0.05). A 10 min treatment of 0.3 mg/l CD gas, 7 mg/l of aq. CD, and 50 mg/l SHC resulted in reductions of 3.21, 3.74 and 3.09 log10 CFU/cm2, respectively. At 10 min, all treatments were not statistically different (p > 0.05). Low levels of CD (0.3 mg/l CD gas and 7 mg/l aq. CD solution) for 10 min resulted in similar log reductions compared to 50 mg/l SHC.