Killing of bacteria by induction of cell autolysis

homology to reported replication proteins of Gram-positive organisms was found. Staphylococci were isolated from the food industry. Of 191 isolates, 25 were resistant to the QAC benzalkonium chloride. Hybridization analysis indicated that plasmid DNA from seven of these strains hybridized to probes of the qacA/ B family, while plasmid DNA from 13 strains hybridized to probes of the qacC/D/Ffamily. No hybridization was evident for the remaining five strains. The finding of resistant staphylococci in different areas of the food processing industry indicates that QAC resistance is a potential problem in the food processing industry.