title: Growth potential of faecal bacteria in simulated psychrophilic/mesophilic zones during composting of organic waste.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study investigated the growth potential of Salmonella serotype Typhimurium and faecal indicator organisms in compost materials and the correlation between bacterial growth potential and the physico-chemical composition of the compost substrate and temperature.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survival of Salm. Typhimurium, Enterococcus spp. and total coliforms at 14, 24 and 37 degrees C was determined in material of different degrees of maturity collected from composting plants for household waste and manure. All three micro-organisms showed the potential for growth in the material from active composts (Solvita index 4) but inactivation generally occurred over time in mature compost material (Solvita index 7-8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Salm. Typhimurium had the potential for growth in psychrophilic/mesophilic (P/M) zones of immature compost material and its growth potential correlated negatively with the maturity of the compost and the temperature within the simulated P/M zone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The risk of pathogen regrowth in P/M zones during organic waste composting further emphasizes the importance of good management practices and of avoiding P/M zones in combination with low compost maturity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Environment and Feed Hygiene, National Veterinary Institute (SVA), Uppsala, Sweden. josefine.elving@sva.se
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elving
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Ottoson
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vinnerås
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Albihn
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016983:Enterococcus / Q000254:growth & development*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D008372:Manure / Q000382:microbiology*; D010944:Plants / Q000382:microbiology; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000254:growth & development*; D012987:Soil / Q000032:analysis*; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D008372:Manure; D012987:Soil