Efficacy of Five Disinfectant Products Commonly Used in Pig Herds against a Panel of Bacteria Sensitive and Resistant to Selected Antimicrobials

Simple Summary Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing concern worldwide in both human and veterinary medicine. Biosecurity and the ability to limit bacterial contamination on farms are crucial in the fight against disease, including AMR bacteria. This study aimed to investigate whether the recommended concentrations of five commercial disinfectants (A to E) were sufficient to inhibit growth and inactivate a panel of bacterial strains, including some that carry multidrug resistance to selected antimicrobials. The effectiveness of each disinfectant was expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). The results indicate that the type of disinfectant and its concentration influence the inhibitory and bactericidal efficacy. The glutaraldehyde/quaternary ammonium-compound-based (disinfectant D) and chlorocresol-based products (disinfectant B) were the most effective in this study. Varying results were observed for the other compounds, depending on the bacterial species tested. The iodine-based (disinfectant C) and potassium-peroxymonosulfate-based (disinfectant A) products were less able to inhibit or inactivate the bacteria. The disinfectant products were less effective against the strains of E. coli with different phenotypic profiles of antimicrobial resistance compared to sensitive strains. Abstract The growing threat of antimicrobial resistance worldwide has led to an increasing concern in the human, veterinary, and environmental fields, highlighting the need for strategies to effectively control bacterial contamination. Correct biosecurity practices, including the appropriate use of disinfectants, play a crucial role in controlling bacterial contamination. This study aimed to verify whether the recommended concentrations defined according to the Defra General Orders concentration (GO, published by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ disinfectant-approval scheme) of five commercial disinfectant preparations (peroxygen-based, phenol-based, two halogen-releasing agents, and glutaraldehyde/quaternary ammonium compound-based; disinfectants A to E, respectively) were sufficient to inhibit growth and inactivate selected bacterial strains, including some that carry known phenotypic patterns of multidrug resistance. The effectiveness of each disinfectant was expressed as the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values, determined by the broth-microdilution method. The results indicate that the type of disinfectant and its concentration influence the inhibitory and bactericidal efficacy. The glutaraldehyde/quaternary ammonium compound-based (disinfectant D) and chlorocresol-based products (disinfectant B) were the most effective, and the GO concentration was bactericidal in all the strains tested. The efficacy of the other compounds varied, depending on the bacterial species tested. The GO concentrations were at least able to inhibit the bacterial growth in all the products and bacterial strains tested. A greater tolerance to the compounds was observed in the strains of E. coli with multidrug-resistance profiles compared to the strains that were sensitive to the same antimicrobials.