1 A NOVEL APPROACH TO FOOT DIPPING Robert L. Owen and John Lawlor.

1

A NOVEL APPROACH TO FOOT DIPPING

Robert L. Owen and John Lawlor

The Problem

• Biosecurity is a year round obligation

• In some parts of the country, foot dipping is impossible at certain times of the year.

• Universally, foot pans are inadequately maintained.

The Solution

1) Ignore that the problem exists

2) Discontinue use of foot pans

3) Utilize pump up sprayers filled with disinfectant

4) How about a dry foot bath?

Question 1

Are foot pan solutions effective at reducing the numbers of bacteria on shoes of hatchery workers?

Total Bacterial Counts from Shoe Swabs

Fresh SolutionAfter 3 hours of use

Active Ingredient

% Change in bacterial count

% Change in bacterial count

Phenol -45.8 +130.5

Quaternary Ammonium

-57.5 +73.3

Water +87.2 +44.8

Question 2

How long does a foot pan solution stay clean in a hatchery environment?

Total bacterial count of the solution

Fresh solution –

Before and after ~25 exposures

3 hours old –

Before and after ~25 exposures

Active ingredient

Change in Bacterial Count

Change in Bacterial Count

Phenol 36 TNTC TNTC TNTC

Quaternary Ammonium 1 12 185 TNTC

Water 19 TNTC TNTC TNTC

Materials and Methods

• A total of 5 dry products were tested

• Early testing was for efficacy of Salmonella control only

• Based on these results 2 of the 5 original products were dropped due to lack of efficacy or cost

• Remaining products were tested versus currently used liquid products

Testing Procedure

• Swab was collected from the sole of the technician’s shoe before stepping into test pan

• Stood in test pan for 10 second contact time

• Shoe was again swabbed after stepping out of test pan

• Samples were directly plated on TSA and incubated 37oC for 18 to 24 hours

• Colonies enumerated by direct count

• >400 classified as TNTC

• Repeated daily until efficacy was lost

ResultsActive Ingredient

% Change in Bacterial Count

Average Residual Life

Powdered detergent + dry bleach

-89.43 3 weeks

Dry Bleach -92.5 3 weeks

Powdered detergent + dry bleach

-86.41 3 weeks

Phenol -74.59 2 weeks

Quaternary ammonium

-95.6 2 weeks

Materials and Methods: Trial 2

• Actually done in the hatchery

• Employee’s shoe was swabbed before stepping into test pan

• Between Chick Room and Break Room

• Real World 5 to 10 second contact time

Results – Trial 2Active Ingredient

% Change in Bacterial count

Average Residual Life

Detergent + Dry Bleach

-92.6 14 days

Dry Bleach -98.06 14 days

Phenol + 10.8 <2 hours

Quaternary ammonium

-23.6 <2 hours

Conclusions

• Duration of effectiveness for solution in foot pans is very short under field conditions

• Dry disinfectants are effective at reducing bacterial numbers on shoes

• Duration of effectiveness for dry disinfectants is substantially longer than for solutions

Practical Applications

• Real goal is to reduce tracking of bacteria – especially Salmonella

• Only part of an overall biosecurity program

Entrance to Chicken House

Biosecurity Building

Inside The Hatchery

Acknowledgments

• Tony Britt, Hatchery Manager, Pikeville, TN

• Technical Support

• Melissa Poulson

• Amanda Harvey

• Tara Stroope

• Lena Shipley

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