Bach, Susan, Ph.D.

Research Scientist

Contact Information:

4200 Highway 97
Box 5000
Summerland, British Columbia V0H 1Z0
Telephone: 250-494-6398
Fax: 250-494-0755
Email: susan.bach@agr.gc.ca

Areas of Expertise:

  • horticultural products
  • food safety
  • control of e. coli o157:h7 in cattle
  • antimicrobial resistance
  • bacteriophages
  • human pathogens
  • molecular biology / microbiology

Current Projects:

  • The effects of on-farm practices, such as manure application and the use of irrigation water, on the presence of human pathogens (E. coli O157:H7, Listeria, Salmonella) on foods of plant origin and their persistence in the environment
  • The use of molecular methods for the detection and enumeration of E. coli O157:H7 from foods of plant origin

Research Publications:

The links below lead to abstracts with access to full text.

2013:

2012:

2011:

2010:

2009:

Other Science Related Publications:

2012:

  • Delaquis, P.J. and Bach, S.J. (2012). "Resistance and sub-lethal damage.", in Gómez-López, V.M. (ed.) - Decontamination of Fresh and Minimally Processed Produce, Wiley - Blackwell, Chapter 4, pp. 77-86.
  • Diarra, M.S., Rempel, H., Bach, S.J., Harlton, C.E., Delaquis, P.J., Pritchard, J., Aslam, M.N., Leslie, M., and Topp, E. (2012). "Distribution of antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes among Salmonella spp. Isolated from broiler chickens in British Columbia.", 101st Annual Meeting of the International Association of Food Protection (IAFP 2012), Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, RI, USA, July 22-25, 2012, Poster ID# 2398. (Poster)

2011:

  • Bach, S.J., Lu, C., Delaquis, P.J., and Toivonen, P.M.A. (2011). "Cutting Romaine lettuce while submerged in sanitizer improves efficacy of sodium hypochlorite.", The Grower, 61(5), pp. 20.
  • Toivonen, P.M.A., Lu, C., Delaquis, P.J., and Bach, S.J. (2011). "Timing of sanitizer application reduces microbial counts on fresh-cut Romaine lettuce.", 2nd ISHS International Conference on Quality Management of Fresh Cut Produce: Convenience Food for a Tasteful Life, Università degli Studi di Torino, Torino, Italy, July 17-21, 2011.

2010:

  • Bach, S.J., Leblanc, D., and Lin, P. (2010). "The influence of chlorine and low temperature on the induction of the viable but non-culturable state in Escherichia coli 0157:H7.", 2010 Canadian Institute of Food Science & Technology (CIFST) and AAFC Conference, Fairmont Winnipeg Hotel, Winnipeg, MB, Canada, May 30-June 1, 2010, # 02-2. (Abstract)
  • Toivonen, P.M.A., Lu, C., Delaquis, P.J., and Bach, S.J. (2010). "Evaluation of timing for application of sanitizing washes to reduce microbial counts on Romaine lettuce.", 14th Annual Federal Food Safety and Nutrition Research Meeting (FFSNRM), Ottawa, ON, Canada, November 3-4, 2010, pp. 28.

2009:

  • Bach, S.J. (2009). "On-farm Food Safety and Water Quality: Just What Does a Test Result Mean?", 51st Annual Horticulture Growers' Short Course, Tradex, Abbotsford Airport, Abbotsford, BC, Canada, February 14-16, 2009.
  • Bach, S.J. and Delaquis, P.J. (2009). "The origin and spread of human pathogens in fruit production systems.", in Fan, X, Miemira, B., Doona, C., Feeherry, F., and Gravani, B. (eds.) - Microbial Safety of Fresh Produce: Challenges, Perspectives and Strategies, Wiley - Blackwell, Chapter 2, pp. 43-54.
  • Delaquis, P.J., Bach, S.J., LeBlanc, D.I., Brassard, J., Houde, A., Villeneuve, S., Bezanson, G.S., Diarra, M.S., Topp, E., Blais, B., Gajadhar, A., Bisaillon, J.-R., Fazil, A.M., Gilmour, M., Mattison, K., and Bidawid, S. (2009). "A systems-based approach for the assessment of microbiological threats to the food supply.", 13th Annual Federal Food Safety and Nutrition Research Meeting (FFSNRM), Ottawa, ON, Canada, November 4-5, 2009. (Presentation)