Dissemination of Cronobacter spp. (Enterobacter sakazakii) in a Powdered Milk Protein Manufacturing Facility

ABSTRACT The microbial contamination of air filters and possible links to contaminated product in a powdered milk protein-processing facility were investigated. Over a 10-month period, seven air filters, the environment, and powdered product were analyzed for the presence of Cronobacter spp. The effects of air filter installation, maintenance, and subsequent dissemination of Cronobacter were investigated. A total of 30 isolates were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). PFGE revealed the presence of three clonal populations distributed throughout the manufacturing site. This study highlights the need for proper installation of air filters to limit the dissemination of microorganisms into processing sites.

[1]  P. Whyte,et al.  Enterobacter sakazakii: biological properties and significance in dried infant milk formula (IMF) powder† , 2006 .

[2]  P. Whyte,et al.  Application of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to characterise and trace the prevalence of Enterobacter sakazakii in an infant formula processing facility. , 2007, International journal of food microbiology.

[3]  P. Breeuwer,et al.  Desiccation and heat tolerance of Enterobacter sakazakii , 2003, Journal of applied microbiology.

[4]  P. Whyte,et al.  Enterobacter sakazakii an emerging bacterial pathogen with implications for infant health. , 2007, Minerva pediatrica.

[5]  S. Forsythe,et al.  Risk profile of Enterobacter sakazakii, an emergent pathogen associated with infant milk formula , 2003 .

[6]  Edward M. Fox,et al.  Enterobacter sakazakii survives spray drying , 2008 .

[7]  M. W. Reij,et al.  Occurrence of Enterobacter sakazakii in food production environments and households , 2004, The Lancet.

[8]  C. Braden,et al.  Invasive Enterobacter sakazakii Disease in Infants , 2006, Emerging infectious diseases.

[9]  J. Farber,et al.  Enterobacter sakazakii: a review. , 1997, International journal of food microbiology.

[10]  L. Beuchat,et al.  Enterobacter sakazakii: a coliform of increased concern to infant health. , 2005, International journal of food microbiology.

[11]  S. Fanning,et al.  Identification of “Cronobacter” spp. (Enterobacter sakazakii) , 2007, Journal of Clinical Microbiology.

[12]  M. W. Reij,et al.  A new protocol for the detection of Enterobacter sakazakii applied to environmental samples. , 2004, Journal of food protection.

[13]  S. Forsythe.  Enterobacter sakazakii and other bacteria in powdered infant milk formula. , 2005, Maternal & child nutrition.

[14]  S. Fanning,et al.  Enterobacter sakazakii: an emerging pathogen in powdered infant formula. , 2006, Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

[15]  K. Riedel,et al.  Identification of proteins involved in osmotic stress response in Enterobacter sakazakii by proteomics , 2007, Proteomics.

[16]  E. Russek,et al.  Computation of Most Probable Numbers , 1983, Applied and environmental microbiology.

[17]  P. Whyte,et al.  Characterization of a collection of Enterobacter sakazakii isolates from environmental and food sources. , 2006, International journal of food microbiology.

[18]  H. L. M. Lelieveld,et al.  Hygiene in food processing , 2003 .

[19]  K. Seo,et al.  Rapid, specific detection of Enterobacter sakazakii in infant formula using a real-time PCR assay. , 2005, Journal of food protection.