Antimicrobial effect of water‐soluble chitosans with high hydrostatic pressure

Abstract Two commercially available water‐soluble chitosan salts, chitosan lactate and chitosan hydroglutamate, were examined for antagonistic effect against Escherichia coli V517, Staphylococcus aureus MF‐31 and Saccharomyces cerevisiae 15. Significant inactivation of each population was evident within 2 min of incubation with Chitosan. S. cerevisiae was the most sensitive of the microorganisms examined. Concentration effects varied but chitosan hydroglutamate was usually the more effective of the chitosans for inactivation of these microorganisms. Application of high hydrostatic pressure (2,380 atmospheres) to chitosan‐treated cultures of E. coli V517 or S. aureus MF‐31 resulted in additional inactivation but an amplified or synergistic effect was not found.