Analysis of the effectiveness of sanitizers for a low moisture footwear sanitization unit

Abeywickrema S., Navaratne S.B.

E. coli, Footwear sanitization, IPA, Low moisture systems, QAC.

Footwear sanitization is critically considered in food industries as control of the cross contamination of pathogens for the safety and quality of the production. Since poor maintenance of footbaths type of footwear sanitization systems can further enhance cross contaminations, importance of low moisture systems in footwear sanitization is acclaimed. This study examines the efficacy of the decontamination of E. coli, with IPA/ethanol, QAC/ethanol, IPA/QAC/ethanol, IPA/QAC/water chemical treatments for boots and slippers. Cleaned footwears were treated with E. coli sample and sanitizer was treated by spraying. Swab tests were done before and after applying treatments. Using dilution series, CFU was counted after incubating the selected diluent on the petri plates. Log value of the reduction of E. coli was graphically represented, and further statistical analysis was done by Tukey’s test with a post hoc test. Results revealed that IPA/QAC/water treatment was the best as it significantly contribute (Tukey’s test, P ≤ 0.05) in log reduction/CFUs of microorganism. Overall study depicts IPA/QAC/water combination is efficient and effective as sanitizer combination for a low moisture footwear sanitization system.

10.22161/ijaers.5.3.16