Cronobacter Support
05-18-2009, 03:02 PM
1st International Conference on Cronobacter Poster Abstract 35
Incidence and growth characteristics of Cronobacter sakazakii isolated from powdered infant formula (PIF) milk on sale in Abu Dhabi
Cronobacter sakazakii is an emerging pathogen associated with life-threatening neonatal infections resulting from the consumption of contaminated powdered infant formula (PIF) milk. C. sakazakii has been found in manufacturing equipment, which is a potential source of contamination for powdered infant formula (PIF) after pasteurization. This study was conducted to determine the risk of using infant formula for C. sakazakii infection and to identify any potential risks if the product is mishandled. Stores in Abu Dhabi were surveyed to determine the market availability of PIF and packaging details were recorded. Random samples were analyzed for C. sakazakii and aerobic colony count (ACC). There were 18 different companies exporting their products for sale in Abu Dhabi. The most common method of labelling was direct printing onto the can without any paper. This was observed on 91% of the samples studied. All of the products used bilingual labelling and most of them (91%) were using Arabic and English. Nine samples (4.5%) were found to be contaminated with C. sakazakii. C. sakazakii contamination did not correlate with ACC results, which ranged between <10 CFU/g and 5.6 X 103 CFU/g. The disc diffusion method in addition to the Becton Dickinson Phoenix system were used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of C. sakazakii isolates. The C. sakazakii isolates were resistant to the following antibiotics: cephalothin, cefoxitin, ampicillin and amoxicillin/ clavulanate. This could have an influence on treatment. Growth curves were determined using PIF reconstituted at 23°C and 37°C, the average generation times were 73 min and 25 min respectively. C. sakazakii takes a short time to double at 37°C, a common ambient kitchen temperature in the Gulf. D-values were determined using the survival curve method at temperatures of 50°C, 60°C, 70°C and 80°C. They were 909; 0.87; 0.32 and 0.15 min respectively. C. sakazakii was significantly tolerant when exposed to 50°C, the recommended reconstitution temperature. This study concluded that there is a risk, especially if PIF milk is mishandled and therefore C. sakazakii should be included in the Gulf Standard for PIF milk and also correct labelling of cans and instructions should be included in the standard.
Yousef Alsaadi and Farouq Hashim
Special Microbiology Unit Laboratories Division, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, PO Box 52150, Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates (U. A. E.)
Incidence and growth characteristics of Cronobacter sakazakii isolated from powdered infant formula (PIF) milk on sale in Abu Dhabi
Cronobacter sakazakii is an emerging pathogen associated with life-threatening neonatal infections resulting from the consumption of contaminated powdered infant formula (PIF) milk. C. sakazakii has been found in manufacturing equipment, which is a potential source of contamination for powdered infant formula (PIF) after pasteurization. This study was conducted to determine the risk of using infant formula for C. sakazakii infection and to identify any potential risks if the product is mishandled. Stores in Abu Dhabi were surveyed to determine the market availability of PIF and packaging details were recorded. Random samples were analyzed for C. sakazakii and aerobic colony count (ACC). There were 18 different companies exporting their products for sale in Abu Dhabi. The most common method of labelling was direct printing onto the can without any paper. This was observed on 91% of the samples studied. All of the products used bilingual labelling and most of them (91%) were using Arabic and English. Nine samples (4.5%) were found to be contaminated with C. sakazakii. C. sakazakii contamination did not correlate with ACC results, which ranged between <10 CFU/g and 5.6 X 103 CFU/g. The disc diffusion method in addition to the Becton Dickinson Phoenix system were used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of C. sakazakii isolates. The C. sakazakii isolates were resistant to the following antibiotics: cephalothin, cefoxitin, ampicillin and amoxicillin/ clavulanate. This could have an influence on treatment. Growth curves were determined using PIF reconstituted at 23°C and 37°C, the average generation times were 73 min and 25 min respectively. C. sakazakii takes a short time to double at 37°C, a common ambient kitchen temperature in the Gulf. D-values were determined using the survival curve method at temperatures of 50°C, 60°C, 70°C and 80°C. They were 909; 0.87; 0.32 and 0.15 min respectively. C. sakazakii was significantly tolerant when exposed to 50°C, the recommended reconstitution temperature. This study concluded that there is a risk, especially if PIF milk is mishandled and therefore C. sakazakii should be included in the Gulf Standard for PIF milk and also correct labelling of cans and instructions should be included in the standard.
Yousef Alsaadi and Farouq Hashim
Special Microbiology Unit Laboratories Division, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, PO Box 52150, Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates (U. A. E.)