Delmopinol hydrochloride inhibits Campylobacter jejuni on skinless poultry meat, stainless steel and high-density polyethylene food contact surfaces.

Delmopinol hydrochloride (delmopinol) is a cationic surfactant that is effective for treating and preventing gingivitis and periodontitis. This study evaluated the effectiveness of delmopinol for reducing attachment of Campylobacter jejuni to chicken meat, stainless steel and high-density polyethylene (HDPE). These test materials were spot-inoculated with a C. jejuni culture. After 10 min, samples were sprayed with 0.5% or 1.0% delmopinol, 0.01% sodium hypochlorite, or distilled water. After a 1, 10, or 20 min contact time, samples were rinsed which were serially diluted onto Campy-Cefex Agar. For additional samples, solutions were applied before inoculation with C. jejuni. Cultures remained undisturbed for 1, 10, or 20 min. Samples were then rinsed and plated as above. When C. jejuni was inoculated before treatments, 1% delmopinol application led to mean log reductions of 1.26, 3.70, and 3.72 log cfu ml-1, greater than distilled water alone, for chicken, steel and HDPE respectively. When C. jejuni was inoculated after spray treatments, 1% delmopinol reduced C. jejuni by 2.72, 3.20, and 3.99 mean log cfu ml-1 more than distilled water for chicken, steel and HDPE respectively. Application of 1% delmopinol, resulted in a significantly (P < 0.05) greater log reduction than a 0.01% sodium hypochlorite or distilled water application.