Microbiological Quality of Powdered Infant Formula in Latin America
Keywords: virulence, antibiotic resistance, microbiological quality, powdered infant formula, Cronobacter sakazakii
Abstract
Cronobacter is a bacterial genus that includes seven species, and the species Cronobacter sakazakii is most related to meningitis and septicemia in infants associated with powdered infant formula (PIF). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the presence of C. sakazakii and to determine the microbiological quality of PIF for infant consumption. To do this, a total of 128 PIF samples were analyzed in four brands and countries (Chile, Mexico, Holland, and Brazil), considering three types of PIF: premature (PIF1), infant (PIF2), and follow-up (PIF3). Aerobic plate counts (APC) and Enterobacteriaceae (ENT) were assessed in accordance with Chilean official standards. The outer membrane protein A (ompA) gene was amplified to detect Cronobacter spp. and the fusA gene was amplified to identify C. sakazakii by using the PubMLST Web site and BLAST (NCBI). The antibiotic resistance profile was performed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute standards. The pathogen was quantified by the most probable number (MPN). The results showed that APC median values for PIF1, PIF2, and PIF3 were 3.2, 4.9, and 4.8 log CFU g1, respectively. The APC were higher in PIF2 (P , 0.01) from Holland (P , 0.01) in the commercial brand 4 (P , 0.01). The ENT median values in PIF1, PIF2, and PIF3 were 1.8, 1.5, and 1.7 log CFU g1, respectively. Five strains of C. sakazakii and one strain of Cronobacter malonaticus were identified as having values between 0.023 and 2.3 MPN/g. All strains (100%) harbored the ompA, plasminogen activator (cpa), and hemolysin (hly) virulence genes. To conclude, C. sakazakii was found in four PIF samples from four Chilean products and one from Mexico, which is distributed throughout America. C. sakazakii strains exhibit virulence factors and resistance to ampicillin, thus posing a risk when PIFs are consumed by infants.
Más información
Título de la Revista: | Journal of Food Protection |
Volumen: | 83 |
Número: | 3 |
Editorial: | Meridian-Allen press |
Fecha de publicación: | 2020 |
Página de inicio: | 534 |
Página final: | 541 |
Idioma: | Inglés |
Financiamiento/Sponsor: | DIUBb |
DOI: |
10.4315/0362-028X.JFP-19-399 |
Notas: | ISI |