Evaluation of the Empower model of care for partial denture clients in a public oral health care setting.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of the Empower model of care (EMC) on reducing the addition of teeth to removable partial dentures (RPD). METHODS: Data reports were generated through the Titanium electronic database to retrieve all clients at Monash Dental Services (MHDS) who participated in the EMC or received an RPD prior to the implementation of EMC was assessed over a two-year period to determine if they had additional teeth added to their partial dentures (PD). A logistic regression was performed testing whether a combination of socio-demographic and clinical variables, provided a multivariate explanation of the EMC outcome. RESULTS: Prior to EMC, 2034 patients attended MHDS requiring RPDs with 363 returning to have teeth added. From 2018 to 2020, 38 of 584 participants in EMC returned to have teeth added to their PDs. Those in the 'High' risk group were two times more likely to return requiring additional teeth (OR = 1.99; 95%CI:1.31-3.02); each additional year of age increased the odds of requiring additional teeth (OR = 1.03; 95%CI:1.02-1.04). Participants of the EMC were more than two times less likely to require additional teeth (OR = 0.42; 95%CI:0.29-0.59). The variance in requiring additional teeth accounted for using the full model was 9.1% (η2 = 0.091). CONCLUSIONS: This analysis confirms the effectiveness of the EMC. This approach assists denture wearers to maintain good oral health and provides an effective way of managing public health funds by reducing denture repairs and additions. © 2023 Australian Dental Association.

Findings from three methods to identify falls in hospitals: Results from the Ambient Intelligent Geriatric Management system fall prevention trial.

OBJECTIVE: To (a) compare characteristics of patients who fall with those of patients who did not fall; and (b) characterise falls (time, injury severity and location) through three fall reporting methods (incident system reports, medical notes and clinician reports). METHODS: A substudy design within a stepped-wedge clinical trial was used: 3239 trial participants were recruited from two inpatient Geriatric Evaluation and Management Units and one general medicine ward in two Australian states. To compare the characteristics of patients who had fallen with those who had not, descriptive tests were used. To characterise falls through three reporting methods, bivariate logistic regressions were used. RESULTS: Patients who had fallen were more likely than patients who had not fallen to be cognitively impaired (51% vs. 29%, p < 0.01), admitted with falls (38% vs. 28%, p = 0.01) and have poor health outcomes such as prolonged length of stay (24 [16-34] vs. 12 [8-19] days [IQR], p < 0.01) and less likely to be discharged directly to the community (62% vs. 47%, p < 0.01). Most falls were captured from medical notes (93%), with clinician (71%) and incident reports (68%) missing 21%-25% of falls. The proportion of injurious falls identified through incident reports was higher than medical records or clinician reports (40% vs. 34% vs. 37%). CONCLUSIONS: This study reaffirms the need to improve reporting falls in incident systems and at clinical handover to the team leader. Research should continue to use more than one method of identifying falls, but include data from medical records. Many falls cause injury, resulting in poor health outcomes.

Central fat accretion and insulin sensitivity: differential relationships in parous and nulliparous women.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Childbearing is associated with a disproportionate accumulation of visceral fat and an increased risk of metabolic disease. However, it is unknown whether the visceral fat accretion associated with pregnancy modifies a woman's risk for metabolic disease. The purpose of this study was to test whether the association between abdominal fat and insulin sensitivity differs by parity status in healthy overweight women. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Intra-abdominal adipose tissue (IAAT) via CT, body composition by DXA, insulin sensitivity via intravenous glucose tolerance test and minimal model (SI), HOMA-IR, and cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2max) were assessed in 212 non-diabetic, premenopausal, overweight non-Hispanic white and African-American women. RESULTS: Nulliparous women (n=98) were younger, had less IAAT and higher VO2max, but similar SI, HOMA-IR and leg fat, compared to parous (n=114). In nulliparous women, IAAT was negatively associated with SI, controlling for age, race and body fat mass (r=-0.40, P<0.001), but this relationship was attenuated in parous women (r=-0.15, P=0.16). In multiple linear regression analysis, leg fat and IAAT were significant predictors of SI in nulliparous, but not parous women. CONCLUSIONS: Results suggest that greater IAAT in parous women does not lead to greater insulin resistance; rather, transient insulin resistance during pregnancy may encourage intra-abdominal fat accumulation that is metabolically benign. This underscores the need to consider parity when assessing cardiometabolic risk.

Carcass orientation and drip time affect potential surface water carryover for broiler carcasses subjected to a post-chill water dip or spray1.

To estimate the potential for residual antimicrobial solution carryover, surface water accumulation and loss was measured on post-chill carcasses that were either dipped or sprayed with water. For all experiments, broilers were slaughtered, soft or hard scalded, defeathered, and eviscerated. Carcasses were immersion chilled, allowed to drip, and post-chill carcass weight (CW) recorded. For water dip treatment, carcasses were dipped for 0.5 min in water and hung by a wing (n = 33) or a leg (n = 30) and CW recorded at 0, 0.5, 1, 2, and 5 min post-dip. For water spray treatment, individual carcasses were hung by either the wings (n = 35) or legs (n = 34) from a shackle suspended from a scale. Water was sprayed at 80 psi and post-spray CW recorded. Initial water accumulation (0 min) for dipped carcasses was not significantly different (P > 0.05) for carcasses hung by the leg (101.0 g) or wing (108.8 g). Following the 5 min drip time, 31 g of water remained on the carcasses hung by the leg and only 10 g on carcasses hung by the wing (P < 0.05). When carcasses were sprayed with water, initial water accumulation (0 min) was 62 g for carcasses hung by the legs and 60 g for carcasses hung by the wings (P > 0.05). Following the 5 min drip time, 1 g or no water remained on the sprayed carcasses (P > 0.05). Carcasses that were dipped and hung by a leg for 5 min retained significantly more water (31 g) than carcasses that were dipped and hung by a wing (10 g) or sprayed carcasses hung either way (0.3 g) (P < 0.05). Post-chill water dip resulted in significantly higher initial carcass water accumulation than spraying (105 g vs. 61 g, P < 0.05). Carcass orientation during dripping only affected the amount of retained water for dipped carcasses. Dipped carcasses hung by a leg have the highest potential for residual carcass antimicrobial solution carryover and sprayed carcasses hung by either orientation have the lowest potential for residual antimicrobial solution carryover.

Association of run-in periods with weight loss in obesity randomized controlled trials.

Study-level design characteristics that inform the optimal design of obesity randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have been examined in few studies. A pre-randomization run-in period is one such design element that may influence weight loss. We examined 311 obesity RCTs published between 1 January 2007 and 1 July 2009 that examine d weight loss or weight gain prevention as a primary or secondary end-point. Variables included run-in period, pre-post intervention weight loss, study duration (time), intervention type, percent female and degree of obesity. Linear regression was used to estimate weight loss as a function of (i) run-in (yes/no) and (ii) run-in, time, percent female, body mass index and intervention type. Interaction terms were also examined. Approximately 19% (18.6%) of the studies included a run-in period, with pharmaceutical studies having the highest frequency. Although all intervention types were associated with weight loss (Mean = 2.80 kg, SD = 3.52), the inclusion of a pre-randomization run-in was associated with less weight loss (P = 0.0017) compared with studies that did not include a run-in period. However, this association was not consistent across intervention types. Our results imply that in trials primarily targeting weight loss in adults, run-in periods may not be beneficial for improving weight loss outcomes in interventions.

In vitro synergistic interaction between amide piplartine and antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin against Schistosoma mansoni schistosomula and adult worms.

Schistosomiasis is one of the world's major public health problems, and praziquantel is the only available drug to treat this notable neglected disease. Drug combinations have been considered an important strategy for treatment of infectious diseases, which might enhance therapeutic efficacy and delaying resistance. In this study, we have examined the in vitro activities of the amide piplartine and the antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin 01 administered singly or in combination against Schistosoma mansoni of different ages including 3-hour-old and 7-day-old schistosomula and 49-day-old adult schistosomes as well as on egg output by adult worms. We calculated the median lethal concentrations (LC(50)) of 7.87 and 17.99 µM on 49-day-old adults, 11.02 and 71.58 µM on 7-day-old schistosomula, and 70.87 and 98.42 µM on 3-hour-old schistosomula for piplartine and dermaseptin, respectively. Most Piplartine/dermaseptin combinations showed synergistic effect, with combination index (CI) values less than 0.9 when S. mansoni adults or schistosomula were simultaneously incubated with both drugs in vitro; synergy between these two compounds was also indicated using isobolograms. Additionally, we observed alterations on the tegumental surface of schistosomula and adult schistosomes by means of laser scanning confocal microscopy. Furthermore, egg laying of surviving worms was considerably more reduced when exposed to the piplartine/dermaseptin combinations than each drug alone, and this inhibition was irreversible. This is the first report on the synergistic effect between piplartine and dermaseptin against S. mansoni and opens the route to further studies (e.g. in vivo) to characterize this combination in greater detail.

Schistosoma mansoni tetraspanning orphan receptor (SmTOR): a new vaccine candidate against schistosomiasis.

One approach to fight against schistosomiasis is to develop an efficient vaccine. Schistosoma mansoni tetraspanning orphan receptor (SmTOR) might be a vaccine candidate, as it is a tegument membrane protein expressed most highly in cercariae. In this study we characterized the recombinant first extracellular domain of SmTOR (rSmTORed1) as having the expected property to bind C2 of complement similarly to a smaller peptide of the same domain, and to produce specific and high-titre antibodies in BALB/c mice immunized using complete Freund's adjuvant/incomplete Freund's adjuvant (CFA/IFA). Immunization was protective against parasite infection, as demonstrated by a significant decrease in worm burden in immunized BALB/c mice versus the control groups over two independent trials [64 and 45% reduction for mean adult worm burden in immunized versus phosphate-bufferd saline (PBS) injected mice]. Interestingly, infection by itself did not lead to the generation of anti-rSmTORed1 antibodies, corresponding to the low frequency of specific anti-rSmTORed1 antibodies detected in the sera of patients infected with S. mansoni (2/20; 10%). These data suggest that, as opposed to the natural infection during which SmTOR induces antibodies only rarely, immunization with its smaller first extracellular domain might be more efficient.

Signal pathways regulating hyaluronan secretion into static and cycled synovial joints of rabbits.

Joint lubrication, synovial fluid conservation and many pathophysiological processes depend on hyaluronan (HA). Intra-articular HA injection and exercise, which stimulates articular HA production, ameliorate osteoarthritis. We therefore investigated the pathways regulating movement-stimulated articular HA secretion rate ( ) in vivo. Endogenous HA was removed from the knee joint cavity of anaesthetised rabbits by washout. Joints were then cycled passively or remained static for 5 h, with/without intra-articular agonist/inhibitor, after which newly secreted HA was harvested for analysis. Movement almost doubled . Similar or larger increases were elicited in static joints by the intra-articular Ca(2+) ionophore ionomycin, prostaglandin E(2), cAMP-raising agents, serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitor and activation of protein kinase C (PKC). PKC-stimulated secretion was inhibited by the PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I and inhibitors of the downstream kinases MEK-ERK (U0126, PD98059). These agents inhibited movement-stimulated secretion of HA (MSHA) only when the parallel p38 kinase path was simultaneously inhibited by SB203580 (ineffective alone). The phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 almost fully blocked MSHA (P = 0.001, n = 10), without affecting static . The ENaC channel blocker amiloride inhibited MSHA, whereas other inhibitors of stretch-activated channels (Gd(3+), ruthenium red, SKF96365) did not. It is proposed that MSHA may be mediated by PLC activation, leading to activation of parallel PKC-MEK-ERK and p38 kinase pathways.

Mechanosensitive hyaluronan secretion: stimulus-response curves and role of transcription-translation-translocation in rabbit joints.

Joint movement was recently shown to stimulate the secretion of the lubricant hyaluronan (HA); also, exercise therapy and intra-articular hyaluronan injections are used to treat moderate osteoarthritis. The present study quantifies the stimulus-response curves for HA secretion in vivo and reports a role of transcription-translation-translocation in the secretory response. After washing out endogenous HA from anaesthetized, cannulated rabbit knees, the joints were cycled passively at various frequencies and durations, with or without intra-articular inhibitors of protein synthesis and Golgi processing. Newly secreted HA was harvested for analysis after 5 h. Joints displayed graded, non-linear stimulus-response curves to both duration and frequency of movement; 1 min duration per 15 min or a frequency of 0.17 Hz raised HA secretion by 42-54%, while rapid (1.5 Hz) or prolonged cycling (9 min per 15 min) raised it by 110-130%. Movement-stimulated secretion and phorbol ester-stimulated secretion were partly inhibited by the translation inhibitor cycloheximide, by the transcription-translation inhibitors actinomycin D and puromycin and by the Golgi translocation inhibitor brefeldin A. There is thus a graded coupling between HA secretion and cyclic joint movement that depends partly on new protein synthesis. This is likely to be important for joint homeostasis, providing protection during repetitive cycling and potentially contributing to exercise therapy for osteoarthritis.

Microbial recovery from genetically featherless broiler carcasses after forced cloacal fecal expulsion.

A study was conducted to determine external microbiology of genetically featherless broiler carcasses after forced cloacal fecal expulsion. Full-fed featherless broilers were placed into coops, transported, unloaded, shackled, stunned, suffocated, weighed, and divided into 3 treatments groups. Carcasses were transferred to a separate shackle line and passed through a machine designed to induce defecation (squeeze) and then remove external feces (wash). Treatments were obtained by turning the squeezing and washing components on or off. Treatments were as follows: S carcasses were squeezed but not washed; W carcasses were not squeezed but were washed; and SW carcasses were squeezed and washed. Concentrations of total aerobic microorganisms (AB), Escherichia coli (EC), coliforms (CF), and Campylobacter (CPY) recovered from whole carcass rinses did not vary with treatment (P > 0.05). However, counts of Salmonella (SAL) in rinses of S carcasses were 1.4 log(10) cfu/mL greater than counts of SAL found in rinses of SW carcasses (P < 0.05). The SAL prevalence was similar for S (86% positive), W (90% positive), and SW (83% positive) carcasses (P > 0.05). Populations of AB and CF recovered from wash water (water applied in the machine after fecal expulsion) for SW carcasses were significantly higher by 3.1 and 1.5 log(10) cfu/mL, respectively, than the populations of the same bacteria recovered from wash water for W carcasses (P < 0.05). Levels of EC and CPY recovered from wash water did not vary with treatment. There was no difference in CPY and SAL prevalence in water collected after washing W carcasses or SW carcasses (P > 0.05). Data from the present study show that controlled cloacal fecal expulsion followed by carcass washing immediately after slaughter can be used to minimize the numbers of carcass Salmonella and can reduce the likelihood of visible carcass fecal contamination or cross-contamination to other carcasses and processing equipment.

Identification of yeasts isolated from commercial shell eggs stored at refrigerated temperatures.

Yeasts and molds can grow on or in eggs, causing spoilage. Washed and unwashed eggs (treatments) were collected aseptically on three separate days (replications) from a commercial processing facility and stored for 10 weeks at 4 degrees C. Ten eggs from each treatment were sampled weekly (110 eggs per treatment per replication). Yeasts and molds were enumerated from external shell rinses by plating onto acidified potato dextrose agar. Yeast colonies were picked randomly and stored for subsequent identification by gas chromatographic analysis of fatty acid methyl esters using the MIDI Microbial Identification System. Of 688 isolates analyzed, 380 were identified to genus or species. Genera identified by this method included Candida, Cryptococcus, Hansenula, Hyphopichia, Metschnikowia, Rhodotorula, Sporobolomyces, and Torulaspora. Candida spp. accounted for 84.5% (321 of 380) of the isolate identifications. Candida famata was the most prevalent species (n = 120), followed by Candida lusitaniae (n = 38). A group of 20 isolates was subjected to molecular or biochemical analyses for comparison with the MIDI results. Biochemical tests were performed using automatic and mini systems. Results of biochemical tests and ribosomal DNA sequencing were in agreement for 11 of the isolates, but only 7 of the 20 MIDI-identified isolates were in agreement with the sequencing results. C. famata, an anamorph of Debaryomyces hansenii var. hansenii, was the most commonly identified isolate by all methods. These data indicate that there was limited correlation between results obtained with the MIDI system and the information obtained from molecular databases. However, both systems were able to correctly identify C. famata, the species most often isolated throughout egg storage.

Microbiology of broiler carcasses and chemistry of chiller water as affected by water reuse.

A study was conducted to determine the effects of treating and reusing poultry chiller water in a commercial poultry processing facility. Broiler carcasses and chiller water were obtained from a commercial processing facility which had recently installed a TOMCO Pathogen Management System to recycle water in sections 2 and 3 of two 3-compartment chillers. In this system, reused water is blended with fresh water to maintain the chiller volume. Carcasses were sampled prechill and postchill (final exit), and chiller water was sampled from the beginning and end of each of the 3 sections. Carcasses were subjected to a whole carcass rinse (WCR) in 0.1% peptone. Numbers of Escherichia coli (EC), coliforms (CF), and Campylobacter (CPY) were determined from the WCR and chiller water samples. Prevalence of Salmonella (SAL) was also determined on the WCR and chiller water samples. On average, prechill levels of bacteria recovered from rinses were 2.6, 2.9, and 2.6 log10 cfu/mL for EC, CF, and CPY, respectively. Ten out of 40 (25%) prechill carcasses were positive for SAL. After chilling, numbers of EC, CF, and CPY recovered from carcass rinses decreased by 1.5, 1.5, and 2.0 log10 cfu/mL, respectively. However, 9 out of 40 (22%) postchill carcasses were positive for SAL. When the chiller water samples were tested, counts of EC, CF, and CPY were found only in water collected from the first section of the chiller (inlet and outlet). Two of 4 water samples collected from the inlet of the first section tested positive for SAL. This study shows that fresh and reused water can be used to cool poultry in chiller systems to achieve a reduction in numbers of bacteria (EC, CF, and CPY) or equivalent prevalence (SAL) of bacteria recovered from broiler carcasses.

Recovery of bacteria from broiler carcasses after immersion chilling in different volumes of water, part 2.

Experiments were conducted to determine the relationship between poultry chilling water volume and carcass microbiology. In the first study, the volume of water used during immersion chilling was found to have a significant effect on the counts of bacteria recovered from broiler carcass halves; however, these volumes (2.1 and 16.8 L/kg) were extreme and did not reflect commercial levels. A second study using commercial chilling volumes was conducted with 3.3 L/kg (low) or 6.7 L/kg (high) distilled water in the chiller. Prechill broiler carcasses were removed from a commercial processing line, cut into left and right halves, and one-half of each pair was individually chilled in a bag containing low or high volume of water. Bags containing halves were submersed in a secondary chill tank containing approximately 150 L of an ice-water mix (0.6 degrees C). After 45 min, halves were removed, allowed to drip for 5 min, and rinsed with 100 mL of sterile water for 1 min. Rinses were analyzed for total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Enterobacteriaceae, and Campylobacter. When the numbers of bacteria in the half-carcass rinses (HCR) were compared, counts recovered from halves chilled in a low volume of water were the same as those recovered from the halves chilled with a high volume of water (P > 0.05). Levels found in the HCR ranged from 4.0 to 4.2 log(10) cfu/mL for aerobic bacteria, 3.3 to 3.5 log(10) cfu/mL for E. coli, 3.6 to 3.8 log(10) cfu/mL for Enterobacteriaceae, and 2.4 to 2.6 log(10) cfu/mL for Campylobacter. Data were also analyzed using a paired comparison t-test, and this analysis showed that there was no difference (P > 0.05) in the numbers of aerobic bacteria, E. coli, Enterobacteriaceae, or Campylobacter recovered from paired-halves chilled in different volumes of water. The present study shows that under the conditions outlined in this experiment, doubling the amount of water during immersion chilling (3.3 vs. 6.7 L/kg) did not improve the removal of bacteria from the surfaces of chilled carcasses.

Cyclic movement stimulates hyaluronan secretion into the synovial cavity of rabbit joints.

The novel hypothesis that the secretion of the joint lubricant hyaluronan (HA) is coupled to movement has implications for normal function and osteoarthritis, and was tested in the knee joints of anaesthetized rabbits. After washing out the endogenous synovial fluid HA (miscibility coefficient 0.4), secretion into the joint cavity was measured over 5 h in static joints and in passively cycled joints. The net static secretion rate (11.2 +/- 0.7 microg h(-1), mean +/- s.e.m., n = 90) correlated with the variable endogenous HA mass (mean 367 +/- 8 microg), with a normalized value of 3.4 +/- 0.2 microg h(-1) (100 microg)(-1) . Cyclic joint movement approximately doubled the net HA secretion rate to 22.6 +/- 1.2 microg h(-1) (n = 77) and raised the normalized percentage to 5.9 +/- 0.3 microg h(-1) (100 microg)(-1). Secretion was inhibited by 2-deoxyglucose and iodoacetate, confirming active secretion. The net accumulation rate underestimated true secretion rate due to some trans-synovial loss. HA turnover time (endogenous mass/secretion rate) was 17-30 h (static) to 8-15 h (moved) The results demonstrate for the first time that the active secretion of HA is coupled to joint usage. Movement-secretion coupling may protect joints against the damaging effects of repetitive joint use, replace HA lost during periods of immobility (overnight), and contribute to the clinical benefit of exercise therapy in moderate osteoarthritis.

Effect of dry air or immersion chilling on recovery of bacteria from broiler carcasses.

A study was conducted to investigate the effect of chilling method (air or immersion) on concentration and prevalence of Escherichia coli, coliforms, Campylobacter, and Salmonella recovered from broiler chicken carcasses. For each of four replications, 60 broilers were inoculated orally and intracloacally with 1 ml of a suspension containing Campylobacter at approximately 10(8) cells per ml. After 1 day, broilers were inoculated with 1 ml of a suspension containing Salmonella at approximately 10(8) cells per ml. Broilers were processed, and carcasses were cooled with dry air (3.5 m/s at -1.1 degrees C for 150 min) or by immersion chilling in ice water (0.6 degrees C for 50 min). Concentrations of E. coli, coliforms, Campylobacter, and Salmonella recovered from prechill carcasses averaged 3.5, 3.7, 3.4, and 1.4 log CFU/ml of rinse, respectively. Overall, both chilling methods significantly reduced bacterial concentrations on the carcasses, and no difference in concentrations of bacteria was observed between the two chilling methods (P < 0.05). Both chilling methods reduced E. coli and coliforms by 0.9 to 1.0 log CFU/ml. Air and immersion chilling reduced Campylobacter by 1.4 and 1.0 log CFU/ml and reduced Salmonella by 1.0 and 0.6 log CFU/ml, respectively. Chilling method had no effect on the prevalence of Campylobacter and Salmonella recovered from carcasses. These results demonstrate that air- and immersion-chilled carcasses without chemical intervention are microbiologically comparable, and a 90% reduction in concentrations of E. coli, coliforms, and Campylobacter can be obtained by chilling.

Partitioning of external and internal bacteria carried by broiler chickens before processing.

Broiler chickens from the loading dock of a commercial processing plant were sampled to determine the incidence and counts of coliforms, Escherichia coli, and pathogenic bacteria. Feathers were removed by hand from ten 6-week-old chickens from each of seven different flocks and rinsed in 400 ml of 0.1% peptone water. Heads and feet were removed and rinsed, and the picked carcass was also rinsed, each in 200 ml. The ceca, colon, and crop were aseptically removed and stomached separately in 100 ml of peptone water. Campylobacter was present in six of the seven flocks. Salmonella was isolated from 50 of the 70 carcasses, with at least 2 positive carcasses in each flock, and five-tube most-probable-number (MPN) assays were performed on positive samples. Significantly (P < 0.05) more coliforms and E. coli were found in the ceca than in the feathers, which in turn carried more than the other samples, but total external and internal counts were roughly equivalent. Counts of Campylobacter were higher in the ceca and colon than in the other samples. Salmonella was isolated in external samples from 46 of the 50 positive carcasses compared with 26 positive internal samples or 17 positives in the ceca alone. The total MPN of Salmonella was approximately equivalent in all samples, indicating that contamination was distributed through all external and internal sampling locations. Salmonella-positive samples did not carry higher counts of coliforms or E. coli, and there were no significant correlations between the indicators and pathogens in any sample. Campylobacter numbers in the ceca were correlated with Campylobacter numbers in the feathers and colon, but Salmonella numbers in those samples were not correlated. The pattern of bacterial contamination before processing is complex and highly variable.

Recovery of bacteria from broiler carcasses after spray washing with acidified electrolyzed water or sodium hypochlorite solutions.

A study was conducted to investigate the effects of spray washing broiler carcasses with acidified electrolyzed oxidizing water (EO) or sodium hypochlorite (HOCl) solutions for 5, 10, or 15 s. Commercial broiler carcasses were contaminated with 0.1 g of broiler cecal contents inoculated with 10(5) cells of Campylobacter and 10(5) cells of nalidixic acid-resistant Salmonella. Numbers of bacteria recovered from unwashed control carcasses were 6.7, 5.9, 6.3, and 3.9 log(10) cfu/mL for total aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and Salmonella, respectively. Washing in either EO (50 mg/L of sodium hypochlorite, pH 2.4, oxidation reduction potential of 1,180 mV) or HOCl (50 mg/L of sodium hypochlorite, pH 8.0) significantly reduced the levels of bacteria recovered from carcasses (P < 0.05). Carcasses washed with EO had slightly lower levels of total aerobic bacteria (0.3 log(10) cfu/mL) and E. coli (0.2 log(10) cfu/mL) than HOCl-treated carcasses; however, populations of Campylobacter and Salmonella were comparable after washing in either solution. Increasing the carcass washing time from 5 to 10 s lowered the levels of total aerobic bacteria (6.1 vs. 5.8 log(10) cfu/mL), E. coli (4.6 vs. 4.1 log(10) cfu/mL), Campylobacter (5.2 vs. 4.2 log(10) cfu/mL), and Salmonella (2.0 vs. 1.2 log(10) cfu/mL), but no further microbiological reductions occurred when washing time was extended from 10 to 15 s. Data from the present study show that washing poultry carcasses with EO is slightly better (total aerobic bacteria and E. coli) or equivalent to (Campylobacter and Salmonella) washing with HOCl. Washing broiler carcasses for a period equivalent to 2 inside-outside bird washers (10 s) provided greater reductions in carcass bacterial populations than periods simulating 1 (5 s) or 3 inside-outside bird washers (15 s).

Effect of external or internal fecal contamination on numbers of bacteria on prechilled broiler carcasses.

During processing, fecal material may contact broiler carcasses externally or internally. A study was conducted to determine the effect of external vs. internal fecal contamination on numbers of bacteria on broiler carcasses. In each of 3 trials, 12 carcasses just prior to evisceration were obtained from a commercial processing plant, placed on a shackle line, and eviscerated with commercial equipment in a pilot scale processing plant. Also, approximately 20 intestinal tracts were collected from the processing plant; then cecal contents were collected and pooled. One gram of cecal content was placed on the exterior breast skin (external), inside the carcass cavity (internal), or not applied (control). All carcasses were held 10 min, then placed on the shackle line and passed through a commercial inside-outside bird washer set at 552 kPa, 5 s dwell time, using approximately 189 L per min of tap water at ambient temperature. After a 1-min drip, whole carcass rinses were conducted on each carcass, and coliforms, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter counts were determined and reported as log cfu/mL of rinse. External carcass contamination resulted in significantly higher (P<0.05) coliform, E. coli, and Campylobacter numbers than internal contamination (5.0 vs. 4.5, 4.9 vs. 4.2, and 3.6 vs. 2.6, respectively). Control carcass counts were significantly lower than external or internal carcass contamination counts for coliforms (3.7), E. coli (3.6), and Campylobacter (2.2). External contamination resulted in higher numbers of bacteria after carcass washing, but carcasses with internal contamination still have higher numbers of bacteria after washing than carcasses without applied contamination.

Spoilage microflora of broiler carcasses washed with electrolyzed oxidizing or chlorinated water using an inside-outside bird washer.

The effect of acidic, electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water and chlorinated water on the spoilage microflora of processed broiler carcasses was examined. Carcasses were sprayed for 5 s at 80 psi with tap, chlorinated, or EO water in an inside-outside bird washer. Treated carcasses were then stored at 4 degrees C for 0, 3, 7, or 14 d, and the microbial flora of the carcasses was sampled using the whole-carcass rinse procedure. Populations of psychrotrophic bacteria and yeasts in the carcass rinsates were enumerated. Results indicated that immediately after spraying the carcasses, significantly fewer psychrotrophic bacteria were recovered from carcasses sprayed with chlorinated or EO water than from carcasses sprayed with tap water. Furthermore, significantly fewer yeasts were recovered from carcasses sprayed with EO water than from carcasses sprayed with tap or chlorinated water. The population of psychrotrophic bacteria and yeasts increased on all carcasses during refrigerated storage. However, after 14 d of storage, significantly fewer psychrotrophic bacteria and yeasts were recovered from carcasses sprayed with EO water than from carcasses sprayed with tap or chlorinated water, and significantly fewer microorganisms were recovered from carcasses sprayed with chlorinated water than from carcasses sprayed with tap water. Pseudomonas spp. and Candida spp. were the primary microbial isolates recovered from the broiler carcasses. Findings from the present study indicate that EO water can effectively be used in inside-outside bird washers to decrease the population of spoilage bacteria and yeasts on processed broiler carcasses.