release was achieved for C. difficile and C. beijerinckii after 60 min.
The heat inactivation profile for C. sporogenes exhibited a tailing
effect. In comparison to the other strains, C. sporogenes exhibited
a higher resistance and a higher level of DPA release at 100
C with
a near-maximal DPA release occurring at 30 min. C. sporogenes and
C. beijerinckii were selected for subsequent experiments to determine the combined sporicidal effects of high temperature, high
pressure, and antimicrobial compounds. C. difficile was omitted
from further investigation as its response to heat was similar to
other Clostridium spp.