Survival of foodborne pathogens adhered to the stainless steel after applying the Cymbopogon flexuosus essential oil

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of different concentrations of essential oil (EO) of Cymbopogon flexuosos on the standard strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Salmonella Choleraesuis adhered to the stainless steel surface AISI 304 #4. Initially, the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC) were determined by means of EO macrodilution broth assay. Subsequently, the adhesion and the biofilm formation on stainless steel surface were evaluated for 15 h at 37 °C under agitation, and also the OE sanitizing action against adherent cells on the coupons after 20 and 40 min of contact. The MIC value found for all species was 7.5 μL.mL-1, which is the concentration used for preparing the sanitizing solution. A complete removal of adhered cells of E. coli and S. Choleraesuis occurred after being exposed during both periods of time. The adhered cells of S. aureus were not removed; however, a reduction in the number of adhered cells was detected when compared to that quantity showed before being subjected to sanitizing treatments. The EO of C. flexuosus might be an alternative for microbial control in surfaces during food processing.