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Title: Novel pod for chlorine dioxide generation and delivery to control aerobic bacteria on the inner surface of floor drains

Author
item Berrang, Mark
item HARRISON, MARK - University Of Georgia
item Meinersmann, Richard - Rick

Submitted to: International Poultry Scientific Forum
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/16/2015
Publication Date: 1/25/2016
Citation: Berrang, M.E., Harrison, M. ., Meinersmann, R.J. 2016. Novel pod for chlorine dioxide generation and delivery to control aerobic bacteria on the inner surface of floor drains. International Poultry Scientific Forum. January 25-26,2016. Atlanta, GA.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Floor drains in poultry processing and further processing plants are a harborage site for bacteria both free swimming and in biofilms. This population can include Listeria monocytogenes which has been shown to have potential for airborne spreading from mishandled open drains. Chlorine dioxide (ClO2) is a proven antimicrobial agent with activity against a wide variety of bacteria. Recently, simple and cost effective onsite chlorine dioxide generation products in the form of a compact plastic pod containing chemical precursors for gaseous ClO2 have entered the market for cleaning and deodorization applications. The objective of this study was to test commercially available ClO2 pods as a means to sanitize floor drains. The inner surface of floor drains were sampled in two equal halves each half being 180o of the cross section along the entire vertical length. On each of two replicate sample days, half of the inner surface 5 floor drains were sampled prior to treatment with a sponge pre-moistened with DE neutralizing broth. Each drain was treated by placing an activated pod face down into the drain and allowing 4 hours for ClO2 gas to settle through the pipe. Then, the second half of the inner surface of the pipe was sampled. Fifty additional mL DE broth was added to each sponge which were stomached; serial dilutions were plated on plate count agar, incubated at 35oC for 24 hours and resulting colonies counted. Colony numbers were log10 transformed and counts before and after treatment were compared by Student’s T-test. A mean of 6.5 log CFU/mL DE broth were detected per drain sample prior to application of the treatment, 0.5 log CFU/mL was detected after treatment (P < 0.01). No difference (P = 0.35) was noted between half pipe samples taken before and after the same time period in untreated control pipes. Pre-mixed ClO2 pods show potential as a means to sanitize floor drains.