University of Veterinary Science- Vienna
Listeria poses a significant risk to human health. The main transmission route involves meat and dairy products, so it is important to treat dairies and food-processing plants regularly with disinfectants to kill bacteria. Unfortunately, listeria is developing resistance to the compounds that are most frequently used. Recent work in the group of Stephan Schmitz-Esser at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna (Vetmeduni Vienna) has uncovered the mechanism for listeria’s resistance to one such agent, benzalkonium chloride. The findings have been published in the online journal Plos One.
FoodWorld 