Poultry Slaughtering Plants: Concentrations of Microbial Aerosols in Poultry Slaughtering and Processing Plants

摘要

Concentrations of airborne microorganisms were measured at four poultry slaughtering plants during four one-day visits using Anderson single- and six-stage viable particle (bioaerosol) samplers. Nonselective bioaerosols including total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, psychrotrophic bacteria, and yeasts and molds were measured at approximately 40 sites in and around each plant. Bioaerosol concentrations were highest in shackling and defeathering areas and decreased with product flow through the plant until they approached outside levels in packaging areas. Bioaerosols exhibited a lognormal particle size distribution, with a count median diameter of 4.26 ± 0.19m(n = 59) for total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, and 4.17 ± 0.33 m (n = 33) for yeasts and molds. Selected bacteria were speciated from some samples taken during each visit. Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureas spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Lactoba-cilli were detected on 47% (a = 188), 54% (n = 92), 18% (n = 208), 31% (n = 206), and 89% (n = 100) of the samples, respectively. Some of the detections occurred in areas of the plant where meat was exposed following the chilling process.