Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Microbial Communities in Household Dishwashers in Germany

Britta Brands; Marlitt Honisch; Nadine Merettig; Sandra Bichler; Rainer Stamminger; Jörg Kinnius; Monika Seifert; Ingo Hardacker; Arnd Kessler; Mirko Weide; Noelle Wrubbel; Dirk P. Bockmühl

doi:10.3139/113.110415

Published by De Gruyter March 11, 2016

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Microbial Communities in Household Dishwashers in Germany

Qualitative und quantitative Analyse der mikrobiellen Gemeinschaften in Haushalts-Geschirrspülern in Deutschland

Britta Brands , Marlitt Honisch , Nadine Merettig , Sandra Bichler , Rainer Stamminger , Jörg Kinnius , Monika Seifert , Ingo Hardacker , Arnd Kessler , Mirko Weide , Noelle Wrubbel and Dirk P. Bockmühl

From the journal Tenside Surfactants Detergents

https://doi.org/10.3139/113.110415

Showing a limited preview of this publication:

Abstract

The proper cleaning of used dishes provides an essential means to maintain a sufficient hygiene level on food contact surfaces. However, little is known on the microbiological quality of domestic dishwashers themselves, especially in relation to consumer habits. This study investigated dishwashers in German households to analyse the number and composition of microbial colonisers and their putative impact on dishwashing hygiene. Although the microbiological status of dishwashers appeared to depend on multiple factors, data suggest that a trend towards lower temperatures might effect in a decreased hygiene.

Kurzfassung

Die adäquate Reinigung von benutztem Geschirr ist eine wichtige Maßnahme für die Hygiene von Lebensmittelkontaktoberflächen. Allerdings existieren nur wenige Daten zur mikrobiologischen Qualität von Haushaltsgeschirrspülern, insbesondere im Hinblick auf den Einfluss des Verbraucherverhaltens auf die mikrobielle Besiedlung der Geräte. Im Rahmen der vorliegenden Studie wurden Geschirrspüler in deutschen Haushalten untersucht, um Art und Anzahl der in den Geräten befindlichen Mikroorganismen und deren mögliche Auswirkungen auf die Hygiene des Geschirrspülens zu analysieren. Obwohl der mikrobiologische Status von Geschirrspülern durch viele Faktoren beeinflusst zu werden scheint, legen die erhaltenen Daten nahe, dass der Trend zu niedrigen Temperaturen die Hygiene negativ beeinflusst.

Key words: Dishwasher; home hygiene; consumer behaviour; household appliances; microorganisms

Stichwörter: Geschirrspüler; Haushaltshygiene; Verbraucherverhalten; Haushaltsgeräte; Mikroorganismen

*Correspondence address, Prof. Dr. Dirk Bockmühl, Hygiene and Microbiology, Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, Marie-Curie-Str. 1, D-47533 Kleve. Tel.: +49 28 21 80 67 32 08, Fax: +49 28 21 80 67 34 42 08, E-Mail: dirk.bockmuehl@hochschule-rhein-waal.de

Britta Brands, Molecular Biologist, works as a scientist in the group of Prof. Bockmühl at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

Marlitt Honisch, Engineer, works as a scientist in the group of Prof. Bockmühl at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

Dr. Nadine Merettig, Microbiologist, works as a scientist at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

Dr. Sandra Bichler, Engineer in the group of Prof. Stamminger at the University of Bonn.

Prof. Dr. Rainer Stamminger, Engineer, works as a professor for Household and Appliance Technology at the University of Bonn.

Dr. Jörg Kinnius, Chemist, works in the R&D department of the Dishwashing unit at Miele & Cie.

Monika Seifert, Engineer, works in the R&D department of the Dishwashing unit at Miele & Cie.

Ingo Hardacker, Technician, works in the R&D department of the Laundry and Home Care unit at Henkel & Co. KGaA.

Arnd Kessler, Engineer, works in the R&D department of the Laundry and Home Care unit at Henkel & Co. KGaA.

Dr. Mirko Weide, Microbiologist, works in the R&D department of the Laundry and Home Care unit at Henkel & Co. KGaA.

Dr. Noelle Wrubbel, Chemist, works in the R&D department of the Laundry and Home Care unit at Henkel & Co. KGaA.

Prof. Dr. Dirk Bockmühl, Microbiologist, works as a professor for Hygiene and Microbiology at the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences.

References

1. Bloomfield, S. F.: The hygiene hypothesis: identifying microbial friends and protecting against microbial enemies. Perspect Public Health133 (2013) 301–303. 10.1177/1757913913506642Search in Google Scholar PubMed

2. Bloomfield, S. F. and Scott, E.: Cross-contamination and infection in the domestic environment and the role of chemical disinfectants. J. Appl. Microbiol.83 (1997) 1–9. 10.1046/j.1365-2672.1997.00199.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

3. Cogan, T. A., Slader, J., Bloomfield, S. F. and Humphrey, T. J.: Achieving hygiene in the domestic kitchen: The effectiveness of commonly used cleaning procedures. J. Appl. Microbiol.92 (2002) 885–892. 10.1046/j.1365-2672.2002.01598.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

4. Van Asselt, E. D., De Jong, A. E. I., De Jonge, R. and Nauta, M. J.: Cross-contamination in the kitchen: Estimation of transfer rates for cutting boards, hands and knives. J. Appl. Microbiol.105 (2008) 1392–1401. 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.03875.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

5. De Jong, A. E. I., Verhoeff-Bakkenes, L., Nauta, M. J. and De Jonge, R.: Cross-contamination in the kitchen: Effect of hygiene measures. J. Appl. Microbiol.105 (2008) 615–624. 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.03778.xSearch in Google Scholar PubMed

6. Blackmore, M. A., Howard, K., Prisk, E. M. and Staddon, M.: A Comparison of the Efficiency of Manual and Automatic Dishwashing for the Removal of Bacteria from Domestic Crockery. J. Consum. Stud. Home. Econ.7 (1983) 25–29. 10.1111/j.1470-6431.1983.tb00085.xSearch in Google Scholar

7. Ward, W. E. and Dack, G. M.: Bacteriological Tests on Mechanical Dishwashers for Home Use. Am. J. Public. Heal. Nations Heal.29 (1939) 1114–1118. 10.2105/AJPH.29.10.1114Search in Google Scholar PubMed PubMed Central

8. Stamminger, R., Elschenbroich, A., Rummler, B. and Broil, G.: Washing-up behaviour and techniques in Europe. Hauswirtschaft und Wiss. (2007) 31–40.Search in Google Scholar

9. Zalar, P., Novak, M., Hoog, G. S. D. E. and Gunde-cimerman, N.: Dishwashers – A man-made ecological niche accommodating human opportunistic fungal pathogens. Fungal Biol. (2011) 1–11. 10.1016/j.funbio.2011.04.007Search in Google Scholar PubMed

10. Döğen, A., Kaplan, E., Oksüz, Z., Serin, M. S., Ilkit, M. and de Hoog, G. S.: Dishwashers are a major source of human opportunistic yeast-like fungi in indoor environments in Mersin. Turkey. Med. Mycol.51 (2013) 493–498. 10.3109/13693786.2012.738313Search in Google Scholar PubMed

11. The European Parliament and The Council: Directive 2010/30/EU on the Indication by Labelling and Standard Product Information of the Consumption of Energy and Other Resources by Energy-related Products. Off. J. Eur. Union (2010) 1-12.Search in Google Scholar

12. European Commission: Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1059/2010 supplementing Directive 2010/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to energy labelling of household dishwashers. Off. J. Eur. Union (2010) 1-16.Search in Google Scholar

13. Machouart, M., Gueidan, C., Khemisti, A., Dulongcourty, R., Sudhadham, M. and De Hoog, G. S.: Use of ribosomal introns as new markers of genetic diversity in Exophiala dermatitidis. Fungal Biol.115 (2011) 1038–1050. 10.1016/j.funbio.2011.05.002Search in Google Scholar PubMed

14. Brands, B. and Bockmühl, D. P.: Experimental Evaluation of Hygienic Conditions in Domestic Dishwashers. Tenside Surfactants Deterg.52 (2015) 148–154. 10.3139/113.110360Search in Google Scholar

Received: 2015-09-22

Accepted: 2015-12-04

Published Online: 2016-03-11

Published in Print: 2016-03-16

Qualitative and Quantitative Analysis of Microbial Communities in Household Dishwashers in Germany

Abstract

Kurzfassung

References

Journal and Issue

Articles in the same Issue