Analysis of Neutral Electrolyzed Water anti-bacterial activity on contaminated eggshells with Salmonella enterica or Escherichia coli

摘要

Neutral Electrolyzed Water (NEW) was tested in vitro and on artificially contaminated eggs against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica or Escherichia coli. The antibacterial effect was measured 30 s after treatment. NEW microbicide activity results were compared against 2% citric acid and 0.9% saline solutions. NEW caused an in vitro decrease in Salmonella titers by (>)5.56 Log(10) CFU mL(-1) and in artificially contaminated eggs by.1.45 Log(10) CFU/egg. When it was tested against E. coli, it decreased in vitro bacterial titers by (>)3.28 Log(10) CFU mL(-1) and on artificially contaminated eggs by (>)6.39 Log(10) CFU/egg. The 2% citric acid solution caused an in vitro decrease of 0.4 Log(10) CFU mL(-1) of Salmonella and E. coli and on eggs artificially contaminated with E. coli or Salmonella there was a decrease of 0.06 and 0.62 Log(10) CFU/egg respectively. We evaluated egg cuticle integrity by scanning electron microscopy after treatments with evaluated solutions; the 2% citric acid solution caused damage to the cuticle and exposed eggshell pores and no interaction of NEW or NaCl with the cuticle was observed. NEW treatment showed a fast-bactericidal effect in vitro and table eggs.