Effect of disinfectants on the metabolism of Salmonella enterica serovar enteritidis.

Antimicrobial activity of 19 commercially manufactured disinfectant substances on a Salmonella enteritidis strain was determined. The substances represented 8 quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) and 10 QAS combined with other additives. The antimicrobial efficacy was characterized by influencing the growth of bacterial cells expressed as MIC and ED50 values as well as by the inhibition of the incorporation rate of 14C-adenine and 14C-leucine. According to their efficacy the disinfectants were divided into three groups: (1) substances with strong inhibitory effect (MIC 6-45 micrograms/L) such as Diesin forte, Hexaquart plus, Neoquat S, Triquart, Almyrol, Hexaquart S, ID212, ID213 and Microbac forte; (2) substances with good antibacterial efficacy (MIC 90-780 micrograms/L); (3) substances with MIC values > 780 micrograms/L (up to 3120 micrograms/L). Cetrimide had very low activity (MIC 3.12-6.25 mg/L). The effect of disinfectants on the biosynthetic processes was expressed by R values (IC50(Ade):IC50(Leu)); all these values were < 1 except Benzalkonium chloride, FD312, Divoquat forte, 5P plus, Almyrol, Hexaquart S and Hexaquart plus. Low R values suggested interference of these substances with the synthesis of both nucleic acids and proteins. All substances except 5P plus caused an inhibition of endogenous respiration. The most effective were Almyrol, Diesin forte, Microbac forte and Neoquat which completely inhibited respiration at 190 mg/L. Kvart showed the lowest effect on the respiration over the whole concentration range. The disinfectants also suppressed growth of S. enteritidis, probably by interfering with energy-yielding and-requiring processes in the cells.