THE INHIBITORY PROPERTIES OF VARIOUS SPONGES ON LISTERIA SPP

Various retail and environmental sponges were tested for inhibitory pr operties against Listeria species and several other bacterial genera. Sterile sponges, unrinsed and rinsed in sterile distilled water or ste rile neutralizing buffer, were placed on seeded plates of tryptic soy agar with 0.6% yeast extract. Plates were incubated at 30 degrees C fo r 24 h and zones of inhibition measured.The Systems Plus environmental sponge and the Technical Service Consultants Ltd sponge (sTc)(C) prov ed to be the only sponges which consistently demonstrated no inhibitor y properties. Results using scanning electron microscopy showed consid erable bacterial attachment to the Systems Plus sponge, further corrob orating these findings.