This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Noyce, J. O.
Right arrow Articles by Keevil, C. W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Noyce, J. O.
Right arrow Articles by Keevil, C. W.
Agricola
Right arrow Articles by Noyce, J. O.
Right arrow Articles by Keevil, C. W.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2006, p. 4239-4244, Vol. 72, No. 6
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02532-05
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Use of Copper Cast Alloys To Control Escherichia coli O157 Cross-Contamination during Food Processing

J. O. Noyce,1* H. Michels,2 and C. W. Keevil1

Environmental Healthcare Unit, University of Southampton, Biomedical Sciences Building, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO16 7PX, United Kingdom,1 Copper Development Association Inc., 260 Madison Avenue, New York, New York 100162

Received 27 October 2005/ Accepted 24 March 2006

The most notable method of infection from Escherichia coli O157 (E. coli O157) is through contaminated food products, usually ground beef. The objective of this study was to evaluate seven cast copper alloys (61 to 95% Cu) for their ability to reduce the viability of E. coli O157, mixed with or without ground beef juice, and to compare these results to those for stainless steel. E. coli O157 (NCTC 12900) (2 x 107 CFU) mixed with extracted beef juice (25%) was inoculated onto coupons of each copper cast alloy or stainless steel and incubated at either 22°C or 4°C for up to 6 h. E. coli O157 viability was determined by plate counts in addition to staining in situ with the respiratory indicator fluorochrome 5-cyano-2,3-ditolyl tetrazolium. Without beef extract, three alloys completely killed the inoculum during the 6-h exposure at 22°C. At 4°C, only the high-copper alloys (>85%) significantly reduced the numbers of O157. With beef juice, only one alloy (95% Cu) completely killed the inoculum at 22°C. For stainless steel, no significant reduction in cell numbers occurred. At 4°C, only alloys C83300 (93% Cu) and C87300 (95% Cu) significantly reduced the numbers of E. coli O157, with 1.5- and 5-log kills, respectively. Reducing the inoculum to 103 CFU resulted in a complete kill for all seven cast copper alloys in 20 min or less at 22°C. These results clearly demonstrate the antimicrobial properties of cast copper alloys with regard to E. coli O157, and consequently these alloys have the potential to aid in food safety.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Environmental Healthcare Unit, University of Southampton, Biomedical Sciences Building, Bassett Crescent East, Southampton SO16 7PX, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 2380 592034. Fax: 44 2380 594459. E-mail: J.O.Noyce{at}Soton.ac.uk.

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, June 2006, p. 4239-4244, Vol. 72, No. 6
0099-2240/06/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AEM.02532-05
Copyright © 2006, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



This article has been cited by other articles:

  • Estill, C. F., Baron, P. A., Beard, J. K., Hein, M. J., Larsen, L. D., Rose, L., Schaefer, F. W. III, Noble-Wang, J., Hodges, L., Lindquist, H. D. A., Deye, G. J., Arduino, M. J. (2009). Recovery Efficiency and Limit of Detection of Aerosolized Bacillus anthracis Sterne from Environmental Surface Samples. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 4297-4306 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Santo, C. E., Taudte, N., Nies, D. H., Grass, G. (2008). Contribution of Copper Ion Resistance to Survival of Escherichia coli on Metallic Copper Surfaces. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 74: 977-986 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Azevedo, N. F., Almeida, C., Cerqueira, L., Dias, S., Keevil, C. W., Vieira, M. J. (2007). Coccoid Form of Helicobacter pylori as a Morphological Manifestation of Cell Adaptation to the Environment. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 3423-3427 [Abstract] [Full Text]  
  • Noyce, J. O., Michels, H., Keevil, C. W. (2007). Inactivation of Influenza A Virus on Copper versus Stainless Steel Surfaces. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 73: 2748-2750 [Abstract] [Full Text]  


Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»