The effect of a competitive microflora, pH and temperature on the growth kinetics of Escherichia coli O157:H7

Growth curves were generated for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in brain–heart infusion broth incubated at 37 or 15°C in the presence of individual and combinations of competing microflora. Broths were inoculated withE. coli O157:H7 (log103·00 cfu ml−1) and competitors (log104·00 cfu ml−1) and the initial pH of the broth was either neutral (7·0) or adjusted to 5·8 and then sequentially reduced to 4·8 over 10 h to simulate fermentation conditions. Growth curves were also generated for the competitors in these cultures, including Pseudomonas fragi, Hafnia alvei, Pediococcus acidilactici (pepperoni starter culture) and Brochothrix thermosphacta . Gompertz equations were fitted to the data and growth kinetics including lag phase duration, exponential growth rates and maximum population densities (MPD) calculated. In pure culture, the growth parameters for E. coli O157:H7 in neutral pH broths were significantly different from those recorded in simulated fermentation broths (P<0·05). The presence of competitors in the broth also had a significant effect on the growth kinetics of the pathogen. H. alvei significantly inhibited the growth (lag phase, growth rate and MPD) of E. coli O157:H7 at 37°C, neutral pH and outgrew the pathogen under these conditions. In neutral pH cultures, two other competitors, B. thermosphacta and P. acidilactici also inhibited the lag phase of the pathogen but had no effect on the other growth parameters. In simulated fermentation broths, the growth rate of E. coli O157:H7 was consistently slower and the MPD lower in the presence of a competitive microflora than when grown individually. At 15°C, only one competitor, P. fragi significantly inhibited the lag phase of the pathogen. The implications of these findings for food safety are discussed.