Building reconstruction in meat processing facility resulted in higher levels of the Listeria monocytogenes

A research team from Austria published in the International Journal of Food Microbiology (October 2019) the results of a five-year study carried out in a meat processing plant during reconstruction, while production was ongoing. They monitored Listeria monocytogenes in 40 floor drains distributed over the food processing facility. Before the commencement of construction a baseline sampling took place, showing 45% L. monocytogenes contamination in the drains. The contamination was decreased to 5% as a result of intensive sanitation measures. The reconstruction activities increased the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in the facility to 20.5% and changed the population to a higher proportion of disease-associated genotypes (61%). A resilient flora was detected during three sampling events that might not have been exposed to daily cleaning in the floor drains. The results of the study indicate that L. monocytogenes poses a higher risk for cross-contamination of products during extended periods of building reconstruction. Special precautions must be taken to avoid cross-contamination of products since reconstruction is usually ongoing for extended periods. @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168160519302909?dgcid=rss_sd_all