Efficacy of Commonly Used Antimicrobial Interventions on Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Serotypes O45, O121, and Non-MDR and MDR Salmonella Inoculated Fresh Beef

Conclusions<br/>

Although numerous interventions targeting E. coli O157:H7 have been developed and implemented to decontaminate meat and meat products during the harvesting process, the information on efficacy of these interventions against non-O157 STECs and Salmonella, especially MDR strains versus non-MDR strains, is limited. A study was conducted to determine whether antimicrobial compounds currently used by the meat industry are effective against non-O157 STEC serogroups O45 and O121 compared to E. coli O157:H7 and against non-MDR and MDR Salmonella. All antimicrobial compounds that we tested were effective against non-O157 STEC and Salmonella. The reductions of these pathogens on inoculated fresh beef with tested compounds were at least as great as against E. coli O157:H7. The degree of effectiveness depended on the antimicrobial compounds used. In the present study, lactic acid, hot water, and acidified sodium chlorite were most effective in reducing the target pathogens. FreshFx had an intermediate effect in reducing pathogens, while peroxyacetic acid and BoviBrom had the least effect. The effectiveness of these compounds on non-MDR and MDR Salmonella was inconclusive, but Typhimurium were more resistant than Newport.
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Deliverable <br/>

The results will assist the meat industry in identifying antimicrobial compounds suitable for controlling these pathogens in addition to E. coli O157:H7 and, thus, enhancing meat safety.