INVESTIGATION OF BACTERIAL-RESISTANCE TO HATCHERY DISINFECTANTS

Three commercial chicken hatcheries were sampled for environmental bac teria. Isolated bacteria were tested for resistance to commercial prep arations of quaternary ammonia, phenolic, and glutaraldehyde liquid di sinfectants. Bacterial isolates were exposed to several disinfectant d ilutions bracketing the dilutions recommended by the manufacturer for 5-, 10-, and 15-min exposure periods before subculturing to broth medi um. Approximately 8% of the isolates from two of three hatcheries were resistant to disinfectant concentrations at and above the manufacture rs recommended dilution and rime of exposure. Resistant bacteria inclu ded Serratia marcescens, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus thuringiensis, Baci llus badius, Enterococcus faecalis.