Delmopinol hydrochloride (
delmopinol) is a cationic
surfactant that is effective for treating and preventing
gingivitis and
periodontitis. This study evaluated the effectiveness of
delmopinol for reducing attachment of Campylobacter jejuni to chicken meat,
stainless steel, and
high-density polyethylene (
HDPE). These test materials were spot-inoculated with a C. jejuni culture. After 10 min, samples were sprayed with 0.5% or 1.0%
delmopinol, 0.01%
sodium hypochlorite, or distilled water. After a 1, 10, or 20 min contact time, samples were rinsed, which were serially diluted onto Campy-Cefex
Agar. For additional samples, solutions were applied before inoculation with C. jejuni. Cultures remained undisturbed for 1, 10, or 20 min. Samples were then rinsed and plated as above. When C. jejuni was inoculated before treatments, 1%
delmopinol application led to mean log reductions of 1.26, 3.70, and 3.72 log cfu ml-1, greater than distilled water alone, for chicken, steel and
HDPE, respectively. When C. jejuni was inoculated after spray treatments, 1%
delmopinol reduced C. jejuni by 2.72, 3.20, and 3.99 mean log cfu ml-1 more than distilled water for chicken, steel and
HDPE, respectively. Application of 1%
delmopinol, resulted in a significantly (P < .05) greater log reduction than a 0.01%
sodium hypochlorite or distilled water application.