Comparison of poultry processing equipment surfaces for susceptibility to bacterial attachment and biofilm formation

During processing of poultry meat products, broiler carcasses come in conta ct with many solid surfaces. Bacteria from the carcasses can attach to wet equipment surfaces, form biofilms, and provide a source of cross-contaminat ion for subsequent carcasses. In this study an array of common equipment su rface materials was compared for susceptibility to bacterial attachment and biofilms. To model mixed microbial populations relevant to poultry process ing, samples were taken directly from the processing line and exposed to th e surface materials. Whole carcasses were rinsed with phosphate-buffered sa line (100 mL), and the rinse was diluted in nutrient broth. Absorbance valu es (412 nm) of the suspensions at varying dilutions containing test surface s were compared hourly with controls without test surfaces. The kinetics of bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on test surfaces were determine d under the influence of pH, time, and bacterial cell density, and the elem ental composition of the surface materials was determined by energy-dispers ive X-ray analysis. Our results showed that surfaces vary in affinity for b acterial attachment and biofilm formation. Analysis by spectrophotometry an d scanning electron microscopy confirmed that attachment to stainless steel , polyethylene, and belting was not significantly different from controls. Attachment to picker-finger rubber was significantly less than attachment t o stainless steel and the other surfaces. In fact, picker-finger rubber inh ibits bacterial contamination. An increased understanding of bacterial atta chment and biofilm formation will assist in the development of intervention s to counteract these processes and, thereby, enhance plant sanitation and pathogen control.