Electrochemical Microbial Sensor for Rapid Detection and Quantification of Total Bacterial Count

Early and online detection of pathogens in the agricultural sector is vital in terms of crop protection as well as economy. Within this context, an electrochemical microbial sensor with a locally formed electrocatalyst was used for rapid detection of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria in a suspension of bacteria in water. Initially, the background signals of each bacterial species in water were determined. Following this, the current response from the sensor was used to detect total bacterial concentration of a suspension containing both types of bacteria. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used as the model bacteria for these experiments. These bacteria had the ability to hinder the reduction reaction occurring at the electrode surface, leading to a drop in the current. Concentrations ranging from 10 2 to 10 8 cfu/ml were detected by this sensor. By monitoring the total bacterial concentration of washed water online, this sensor could be of great use anywhere along the food chain, starting from crop production until the marketing of food.