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Factors affecting the inactivation of micro‐organisms by intense light pulses
Author(s) -
GómezLópez V.M.,
Devlieghere F.,
Bonduelle V.,
Debevere J.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2005.02641.x
Subject(s) - human decontamination , contamination , agar , petri dish , agar plate , spore , biology , environmental science , food science , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , physics , ecology , genetics , nuclear physics
Aim: To determine the influence of several factors on the inactivation of micro‐organisms by intense light pulses (ILP). Methods and Results: Micro‐organisms on agar media were flashed 50 times under different conditions and their inactivation measured. Micro‐organisms differed in sensitivity to ILP but no pattern was observed among different groups. Several enumeration methods to quantify the effect of ILP were investigated and showed relevant differences, shading effect and photoreactivation accounted for them, the strike method yielded the most reliable results. Higher decontamination efficiencies were obtained for Petri dishes located close to the strobe and inside the illumination cone. Decontamination efficacy decreased significantly at contamination levels >6·85 log 10 . After 13 successive treatments, no resistance to ILP could be demonstrated. Media warming up depended on the distance from the strobe and the number of flashes. Conclusions: For an industrial implementation: the position and orientation of strobes in an unit will determine the lethality, products should be flashed as soon as possible after contamination occurs, a cooling system should be used for heat‐sensitive products and flashed products should be light protected. No resistant flora is expected to develop. Significance and Impact of the Study: Conclusions derived from this work will allow a better implementation of this decontamination technique at industrial level.