The effect of EDTA and trisodium phosphate, alone and in combination with nisin, on the growth of Arcobacter butzleri in culture

Arcobacter butzleri is a common contaminant of foods of animal origin and there is increasing evidence linking the organism to human illness. This study investigated the effectiveness of ethylene diamine tetra-acetic acid (EDTA) and trisodium phosphate (TSP) alone and in combination with nisin, on the growth of A. butzleri in culture. At 1 mM, 5 mM, 10 mM and 20 mM, EDTA inhibited growth, both alone and combined with 500 IU ml−1nisin, but only at 20 mM did the addition of nisin produce a statistically significant difference compared with EDTA alone (4·3 log10and 5·6 log10reduction respectively). Short-term simultaneous exposure with EDTA and 500 IU ml−1nisin was more effective than sequential treatment on both logarithmically growing and stationary phase cells.