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Use of Negative Air Ionization for Reducing Bacterial Pathogens and Spores on Stainless Steel Surfaces

L. W. Arnold^*, D. H. Boothe^* and B. W. Mitchell

^* USDA/ARS Richard B. Russell Agricultural Research Center, 950 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605
USDA/ARS Southeast Poultry Research Laboratory, 934 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30605

Correspondence: J. W. Arnold, E-mail: jarnold{at}saa.ars.usda.gov

The use of chemicals in food plant sanitation for removing and killing microorganisms could be reduced by the use of alternative nonchemical interventions. Supercharged negative air ionizers have shown potential to effectively reduce airborne and surface microorganisms. In our earlier studies, a small chamber, controlled at 85% relative humidity and supercharged with a -25 kV electrostatic space charge system (ESCS), was used to transfer a strong negative charge to bacteria on stainless steel surfaces. The ESCS treatment caused the levels of biofilm bacteria from chicken carcass rinses to be significantly decreased with 99.8% efficiency at a distance of 18 cm with ion densities of 10⁶ negative ions/cm³ or more. In the present study, effects of the -25 kV charge of ESCS on specific pathogens important for food safety were studied. Treatment of Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enteritidis, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus achieved up to a 4 log reduction with 99.9% reduction efficiency in 3 h. Treatment of bacterial spores of Bacillus stearothermophilus achieved up to a 3 log reduction with a 99.8% reduction efficiency in 3 h. These significant reductions for 5 species of pathogenic bacteria and bacterial spores suggest that the ESCS is a promising alternative treatment for reduction of microbial load in a food-processing facility with the potential to reduce the amount of antimicrobials used.

Key Words: biofilm • negative air ionization • pathogen • poultry • stainless steel