Evaluation of the antibacterial effect of a triclosan-containing floor used in the food industry

Antibacterial surfaces are increasingly used in the food industry. In the present study, the antibacterial effect of a triclosan-containing industrial floor was assessed. A poultry processing plant, which had a floor that contained triclosan, was visited, and the floor was sampled for bacteria. A high bacterial diversity was found on the floor. Testing showed that bacteria isolated from the floor showed a sensitivity to triclosan that covered a range of MICs from 0.07 to >40 ppm. Staphylococci were the most sensitive, and Pseudomonas fluorescens and Serratia marcescens were the most tolerant. The MICs of triclosan for the strains isolated from the floor were similar to the control strains from the corresponding genera or species of other origin. Thus, the floor seemed not to select for strains that were tolerant to triclosan or that led to the development of resistance to triclosan. Laboratory studies showed that the ability of bacteria to survive under dry conditions on coupons of the floor was similar to that for stainless steel and that the survival of the bacteria on the floor was not linked to their tolerance of triclosan, as determined by the MICs of triclosan. Adherence studies showed that bacteria were able to adhere to coupons of the floor; however, no thick biofilm developed after 3 days of incubation. In an agar plate assay, the floor produced inhibition zones against staphylococci, which are known to be very sensitive to triclosan, whereas no inhibition zones were observed for other bacteria tested. In conclusion, the antibacterial effect of the floor seemed to be very low. Because the concentration of triclosan in the floor was low compared to what has been reported for other triclosan-incorporated surfaces, sufficient amounts of triclosan may not have been available on the surface of the floor to kill the bacteria.     

Effect of preslaughter events on the prevalence of Salmonella in market-weight turkeys

The goal of this study was to determine if preslaughter events, such as transport to and holding at the slaughterhouse, affect Salmonella prevalence in turkeys. Floors of transport crates were swabbed after loading and prior to transport at the farm (time 1, n = 100 swabs per trial) and after transport to and holding at the abattoir (time 2, n = 100 swabs per trial). In addition, environmental samples were taken at each of the six premises (n = 25 per premises) as well as in the holding shed at the abattoir (n = 25 samples per trial). At slaughter, the crops, ceca, and spleens were cultured (n = 50 each per flock). As shown from the culture of the crate floor swabs collected pre- and posttransport, when individual farms were analyzed, samples from only one premises exhibited a statistically significant change, as seen by the decline in Salmonella prevalence posttransport (P < 0.01). When the data from all farms were combined, Salmonella was recovered more frequently from swabs collected pretransport at loading on-farm (time 1, 47.6%) than from swabs collected after transport (time 2, 39.7%, P < 0.01). This suggests that transport to and holding at the abattoir do not increase the prevalence of Salmonella in turkeys. This observation contrasts with the increase in Salmonella prevalence reported for hogs and some broilers.     

Reports for 1977 of the regional Associations.

This document lists reports of the regional psychological associations for 1977, including the Western, Midwestern, Rocky Mountain, Eastern, and Southeastern Psychological Associations, as well as the Southern Society for Philosophy and Psychology. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cognitive and affective bases of opinion survey responses.

Two experiments investigated the determinants of agreement with propositions that advocated social privileges for either people in general or specific social groups. Liking for the group to which a group-specific proposition referred had a contrast effect on agreement with a related general proposition that was considered immediately after it, but had a positive influence of agreement with a general proposition that did not occur until several items later. The latter effect was eliminated by instructing Ss to base their judgments on the consequences of the policies described in the propositions. Instructions to base judgments on affective reactions to the propositions produced contrast effects of group-specific propositions on judgments of general ones regardless of whether these items were separated or together in the questionnaire. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)