AUTHOR=Guo Ling , Han Jing , Wang Yanyan , Chang Yajing , Qu Wenxuan , Man Chaoxin , Fei Peng , Jiang Yujun 

TITLE=Antibacterial action of slightly acidic electrolytic water against Cronobacter sakazakii and its application as a disinfectant on high-risk contact surfaces

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=15

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1314362

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2024.1314362

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Powdered infant formula (PIF) is prone to <italic>Cronobacter sakazakii</italic> (<italic>C. sakazakii</italic>) contamination, which can result in infections that endanger the lives of newborns and infants. Slightly acidic electrolytic water (SAEW) has shown antibacterial effects on a variety of foodborne pathogens and has a wide applicability in the food industry. Here, the antibacterial activity of SAEW against <italic>C. sakazakii</italic> and its use as a disinfectant on contact surfaces with high infection transmission risk were investigated. The inactivation of SAEW on <italic>C. sakazakii</italic> was positively correlated to the SAEW concentration and treatment time. The antibacterial effect of SAEW was achieved by decreasing the intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), K<sup>+</sup>, protein, and DNA contents of <italic>C. sakazakii</italic>, reducing the intracellular pH (pH<sub>in</sub>) and destroying the cell morphology, which led to inactivation of <italic>C. sakazakii</italic> ultimately. To test the applicability of this study, the results showed that approximately 10<sup>3</sup> CFU/cm<sup>2</sup> of <italic>C. sakazakii</italic> were successfully inactivated on stainless steel and rubber surfaces after a 30 mg/L SAEW treatment for 20 s. These results indicate the antibacterial mechanism and potential application of SAEW against <italic>C. sakazakii</italic>, as well as a new strategy for the prevention and control of <italic>C. sakazakii</italic> on stainless steel and rubber surfaces.</p>