Survival ofCampylobacter jejuni in the presence of bisulfite and different atmospheres

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Abstract
The effects of bisulfite, atmospheric oxygen content, and temperature on death ofCampylobacter jejuni were studied to more fully define the optimum conditions for survival. Temperature was the most influential factor affecting survival, death occurring up to eight times more rapidly at 25 °C than at 4 °C. Survival was greater in an oxygen-free environment (100 % N2) than in the presence of any level of oxygen, i.e. 5, 21 or 100 % O2; however, factors other than oxygen concentration appeared to have a much greater influence on death ofCampylobacter jejuni at 25 °C than at 4 °C. Greater survival at each temperature and oxygen concentration occurred in the presence of 0.01 % sodium bisulfite than in no or 0.05 % sodium bisulfite. In most instances, 0.05 % sodium bisulfite was toxic toCampylobacter jejuni, as the organism died more rapidly in medium containing this level of bisulfite than no bisulfite. Results indicate that cultures to be transported and/or assayed forCampylobacter jejuni at a later date would best be suspended in a medium containing 0.01 % sodium bisulfite, held in an anaerobic environment, and maintained at 4 °C.