SALMONELLA

These are gram-negative bacteria and they are rather sensitive to disinfectants (if they get in contact with the disinfectant). If the last flock of animals were infected with Salmonella, the cleaning and disinfection procedure must be carried out in the best intensive way.

It is important to review the history of the particular production site, i.e. previous cases of Salmonella and in that case what type was it and how many cases consecutive.

The whole cleaning and disinfection procedure is reviewed and a written plan must be made. It is very important, that the plan describe, who is doing what, how and when.

Example on extra actions at a Salmonella sanitization.

All of the manure must be transported away at least a few kilometres and if placed as a stack, it must be covered with some kind of  “blanket”. Or it must be sanitized with Caustic Soda or Hydrated lime. If manure is lost from the waggon on the way out from the farm, this must be treated with Caustic Soda.

At Salmonella sanitization the cleaning job itself must be done in a very thorough way. No visible or invisible dirt after cleaning is accepted at all. In some cases it is necessary to separate the feeding system and wash it. The water system is filled with a solution that can clean, descale and disinfect and the solution must stay in the system during washing.

Always start the washing by washing “into” the house, so that air outlet and air intake are washed from outside as the first thing, in that way Salmonella is not being spread to the surrounding areas. After cleaning the house and inventory it should be tested, in order to see if still some “biofilm” remains. This cleaning test should cover all inventory, feed- and water system, ventilation, floors, walls, ceiling, entry room, feed- and technic room and also the surrounding areas.

When everything is approved the stable can be “released” for disinfection. A double disinfection is important at a Salmonella sanitization, either as twice surface-disinfection or one surface-disinfection and one hot fogging-disinfection.

After disinfection repairs of floor cracks is necessary, or they can be filled with a solution of Caustic Soda (minimum 2% solution) or Hydrated Lime (minimum 15% solution). It is vital that the cracks is treated several times, so that the Caustic Soda penetrates to the bottom of the crack. The sewer drain is treated with Caustic Soda as well and when finished, the lid is mounted and sealed. This is to prevent salmonella coming form here in cases with under-pressure.

A Salmonella sanitization will always be an individual matter and must be carried out according to the current/concrete circumstance on that particular farm.