Spread of a green fluorescent protein-tagged Pseudomonas putida in a water pipe following airborne contamination.
An aerosol of green fluorescent protein-tagged Pseudomonas putida, created during high-pressure water cleaning of a coupon colonized by a biofilm of the green fluorescent protein bacterium, contaminated the water supply of an experimental setup. The upward spread of P. putida in a vertical pipe of supply water was 4.3 cm/day. Results highlight that a water supply to a food plant can be contaminated by an aerosol of environmental flora, created in typical cleaning operations, and become a reoccurring source of contamination. A practical response that could be taken in a food plant is briefly discussed.
Gagnière
Séverine
S
Agence Française de Sécurité Sanitaire des Aliments, Laboratoire d'Etudes et de Recherches sur la Qualité des Aliments et des Procédés Alimentaires, 23 Avenue du Général de Gaulle, Boîte Postale 332, F-94706 Maisons Alfort, France.
Auvray
Frédéric
F
Carpentier
Brigitte
B
D000336:Aerosols; D000391:Air Microbiology; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D016958:Pseudomonas putida / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology*; D014871:Water Microbiology
D000336:Aerosols; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins