Listeria and disinfectant resistance

Research suggests that listeria is developing resistance to the most frequently used compounds. As part of studies into mechanisms of resistance, Stephan Schmitz-Esser at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna) has uncovered the mechanism for resistance to benzalkonium chloride.

The research centres on listeria acquiring new genetic material from other bacteria.

For more on this research, refer to:

Anneliese Müller, Kathrin Rychli, Meryem Muhterem-Uyar, Andreas Zaiser, Beatrix Stessl, Caitriona M. Guinane, Paul D. Cotter, Martin Wagner, Stephan Schmitz-Esser. Tn6188 - A Novel Transposon in Listeria monocytogenes Responsible for Tolerance to Benzalkonium Chloride. PLoS ONE, 2013; 8 (10): e76835 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076835

Posted by Tim Sandle