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22 August 2009

New Culture Media Help Ensure Safety of Powdered Infant Formulae

New Oxoid media allow quick and easy identification of Cronobacter species (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii)

We have introduced two new culture media for the fast and reliable identification of Cronobacter species (formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii) from food and environmental samples.

The ongoing development of a new horizontal CEN-ISO standard method for the detection of Cronobacter species by the ISO/TC 34, SC9 Ad hoc group for E. sakazakii, addresses issues such as the scope of the method, reliability of identification criteria and improvements to the media¹. In anticipation of these future needs, Oxoid has launched Cronobacter Screening Broth (product code CM1121) and Chromogenic Cronobacter Isolation Agar (product code CM1122).

“We made our new Cronobacter media at the request of ISO/TC 34, SC 9, for the evaluation of the new horizontal ISO Standard for the isolation of Cronobacter spp. from food. This was announced at the first International Cronobacter Conference held at University College in Dublin in January 2009,” comments Patrick Druggan, R&D Group Manager at Oxoid. “With the development of these new media, we are anticipating the needs of food manufacturers and offering valuable additions to our food culture media range.” he concludes.

The Oxoid range also includes media that conform to current ISO requirements (ISO/TS 22964: 2006). This ISO method, which incorporates the use of buffered peptone water (CM1049), modified Lauryl Sulphate Tryptose Broth (CM1133 and SR0247) and Enterobacter sakazakii Isolation Agar (CM1134), allows the presumptive identification of Cronobacter spp. in just 72 hours, unlike the previous recommended method which could take up to seven days.

Oxoid Cronobacter media form part of the extensive range of ISO compliant media for food and environmental testing available from Oxoid. For further information, speak to your local Oxoid representative, telephone +44 (0) 1256 841144, or email val.kane@thermofisher.com

Notes:

Cronobacter species (formerly Enterobacter sakazakii) have been implicated in outbreaks of disease in premature infants, causing sepsis, meningitis and necrotising enterocolitis. Neurological damage can be permanent, and the death rate is reported to be as high as 40-80%².

Cronobacter spp. have been isolated at low levels from powdered infant formulae. The organisms’ high tolerance to desiccation provides a competitive advantage in the dry environments of milk powder factories, increasing the risk of product contamination3.

References:

1. Joosten, H. (2009) Presentation at the 1st International Conference on Cronobacter (Enterobacter sakazakii), 22-23 January 2009, Dublin, Ireland.
2. Nazarowec-White M., Farber J.M. (1997) Int. J. Food Microbiol. 34:103-113.
3. Breeuwer P., Lardeau A., Peterz M., Joosten H. M. (2003) J. App. Microbiol. 5:967.