The effect of phosphate, sodium chloride, sodium nitrite, storage temperature and pH on the growth of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in a laboratory medium.

The effect of eight phosphates in combination with sodium chloride/nitrite mixtures on growth of mixed strains of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli over a period of 10 weeks at three pH values (5.6, 6.2, 6.8) and at seven temperatures ranging from 10 degrees C to 35 degrees C is reported. All eight phosphates inhibited growth to varying degrees in at least some of the conditions investigated. Instances of inhibition increased with concentration of sodium chloride/nitrite and were more frequent at lower temperatures and pH values.