Enterobacteriaceae in ground meats

1978 ◽  
Vol 24 (12) ◽  
pp. 1574-1582 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lai-King Ng ◽  
Michael E. Stiles

Presumptive Escherichia coli counts for 312 samples of non-frozen ground beef were determined and compared with proposed Canadian standards. Results for frozen pork sausages, packaged at manufacturer level, indicated little difference in distribution of presumptive E. coli loads compared with retail ground beef. Use of solid media and direct inoculation of EC broth at 45 °C did not give alternative, rapid methods of estimating E. coli loads in ground beef. Counts on violet red bile agar (VRBA) within 18–24 h incubation at 35 °C gave reliable estimates of coliform bacteria (bile-precipitating colonies) and Enterobacteriaceae (total count), with only 1.3 and 10.7% false positives, respectively. Bile-precipitating isolates from VRBA were primarily E. coli, also Serratia liquefaciens, aerogenic Enterobacter agglomerans, Enterobacter cloacae, Citrobacter freundii, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Non-bile-precipitating colonies were primarily aerogenic E. agglomerans and S. liquefaciens; however, in the most probable number technique E. agglomerans was screened out. In addition to E. coli, E. agglomerans and S. liquefaciens were the principal types of Enterobacteriaceae in these samples. Enterobacter agglomerans gave a variety of IMViC reactions, including the type I (++−−) reaction, whereas S. liquefaciens were predominantly IMViC type −−++. Incubating EC broth at 45.5 °C, as opposed to 44.5 °C, reduced the number of false positives.


1987 ◽  
Vol 50 (12) ◽  
pp. 1017-1022 ◽  
Author(s):  
LAWRENCE RESTAINO ◽  
RICHARD H. LYON

Petrifilm™ violet red bile (PVRB) compared favorably to the most probable number method (MPN) and violet red bile agar (VRBA) methods for enumerating coliforms from frozen raw ground beef. When comparing PVRB and VRBA incubated at 35°C, coliform enumeration displayed a linear relationship (correlation coefficient of 0.932). However, by analyzing 64 ground beef samples, PVRB enumerated 41% more coliforms/g than did VRBA. Two distinct colony types were observed on PVRB: (a) type I (butterfly in appearence) with a colony diameter equal to or greater than 1 mm and gas bubbles 2–4 mm in diameter touching the associated colony; and (b) type II with a colony diameter less than 1 mm in diameter and gas bubbles of the associated colony not necessarily touching the colony but within a colony diameter. The disparity between PVRB and VRBA for enumerating coliforms was attributed to non-coliforms representing approximately 50% of the type II coliform colonies. At 35°C, 83.7% of the type I colonies were Escherichia coli, whereas only 10.9%, of the type II colonies were E. coli. By elevating the incubation temperature from 35°C to 44.5°C, over 90% of the colonies in the counting dilution were type I of which 99.2% were E. coli. At 44.5°C, 39.4% of the type II colonies were E. coli; however, this colony type represented only 9.5% of the total colonies on PVRB. Therefore, a reliable method for enumerating E. coli from raw meat was developed by counting only the type I colonies on PVRB incubated at 44.5°C.



1999 ◽  
Vol 122 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-192 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. TUTTLE ◽  
T. GOMEZ ◽  
M. P. DOYLE ◽  
J. G. WELLS ◽  
T. ZHAO ◽  
...  

Between November 1992 and February 1993, a large outbreak of Escherichia coli O157[ratio ]H7 infections occurred in the western USA and was associated with eating ground beef patties at restaurants of one fast-food chain. Restaurants that were epidemiologically linked with cases served patties produced on two consecutive dates; cultures of recalled ground beef patties produced on those dates yielded E. coli O157[ratio ]H7 strains indistinguishable from those isolated from patients, confirming the vehicle of illness. Seventy-six ground beef patty samples were cultured quantitatively for E. coli O157[ratio ]H7. The median most probable number of organisms was 1·5 per gram (range, <0·3–15) or 67·5 organisms per patty (range, <13·5–675). Correlation of the presence of E. coli O157[ratio ]H7 with other bacterial indicators yielded a significant association between coliform count and the presence of E. coli O157[ratio ]H7 (P=0·04). A meat traceback to investigate possible sources of contamination revealed cattle were probably initially colonized with E. coli O157[ratio ]H7, and that their slaughter caused surface contamination of meat, which once combined with meat from other sources, resulted in a large number of contaminated ground beef patties. Microbiological testing of meat from lots consumed by persons who became ill was suggestive of an infectious dose for E. coli O157[ratio ]H7 of fewer than 700 organisms. These findings present a strong argument for enforcing zero tolerance for this organism in processed food and for markedly decreasing contamination of raw ground beef. Process controls that incorporate microbiological testing of meat may assist these efforts.



2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. a13-19
Author(s):  
ELEXSON NILLIAN ◽  
AMIZA NUR ◽  
DIYANA NUR ◽  
AMIRAH ZAKIRAH ◽  
GRACE BEBEY

Contamination of drinks with E. coli O157:H7 served in food premises such as restaurants can cause haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uremic syndrome to humans. The presence or absence of faecal pathogen was demonstrated using coliform group as indicator microorganisms. Therefore, this study was conducted to detect the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in drinking water from food restaurant premise in Kota Samarahan and Kuching to ensure safe and potable drinking water is served to the consumer. A total of thirty (n=30) drink samples including six types of each of the samples are cold plain water, iced tea, iced milo, syrup and iced milk tea. Most Probable Number (MPN) procedure was used in this study to enumerate the MPN values of coliform bacteria in each drink collected. A total of 53.33% (16/30) of the drink samples showed positive E. coli detection. Then, the PCR assay showed 6.25% (one out of 16 isolates) samples were positive and carried stx1 gene produced by E. coli O157:H7 in iced milo sample types. This study showed the drinks collected from food premises was contaminated with faecal contamination, which was not safe to drink by the consumer. Therefore, preventive actions should be taken to prevent foodborne illness outbreak in future



2006 ◽  
Vol 89 (1) ◽  
pp. 100-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hidemasa Kodaka ◽  
Shingo Mizuochi ◽  
Hajime Teramura ◽  
Tadanobu Nirazuka ◽  
David Goins ◽  
...  

Abstract Compact Dry E. coli/Coliform Count (EC) is a ready-to-use test method for the enumeration of Escherichia coli and coliform bacteria in food. The plates are presterilized and contain culture medium and a cold water-soluble gelling agent. The medium should be rehydrated with 1 mL diluted sample inoculated onto the center of the self-diffusible medium, allowing the solution to diffuse by capillary action. The plate can be incubated at 35C for 2024 h and the colonies counted without any further working steps. The Compact Dry EC medium plates were validated as an analysis tool for determining colony-forming units (CFU) of E. coli and coliform bacteria from a variety of raw meats using 5 different types of raw meats. The performance tests were conducted at 35C. In all studies performed, no apparent differences were observed between the Compact Dry ECmethod and theAOAC Official Method 966.24 results. For the accuracy claim (n = 75), a correlation factor of r2 = 0.93 (E. coli) and r2 = 0.93 (coliform bacteria) could be assigned, as stated in the application for Performance-Tested MethodSM.



2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yukyung Choi ◽  
Yewon Lee ◽  
Soomin Lee ◽  
Sejeong Kim ◽  
Jeeyeon Lee ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The monitoring of pathogens of fishery auction markets is important to obtain safe fishery products regarding hygiene and sanitation. In this study, aerobic, coliform, Escherichia coli, and Vibrio cholerae were monitored in the fishery products and environmental samples obtained from fishery auction markets. Methods The fishery products (flounder, octopus, skate, rock cod, sea bass, snail, monkfish, flatfish, comb pen shell, corb shell, conger eel, hairtail, croaker, and pilchard) were placed in filter bags, and the environmental samples (samples from the water tanks at the fishery auction markets, seawater from the fishery distribution vehicles, ice from wooden or plastic boxes, and surface samples from wooden and plastic boxes used for fish storage) were collected. Aerobic bacteria, E. coli, and coliform in the samples were enumerated on aerobic count plates and E. coli/coliform count plates, respectively. For V. cholerae O1 and V. cholerae non-O1 quantification, most probable number (MPN)-PCR analysis was performed. Results Aerobic and coliform bacteria were detected in most samples, but E. coli was not detected. Wooden boxes were contaminated with high levels of aerobic and coliform bacteria in all seasons (spring, summer, and fall). During fall, V. cholerae non-O1 were detected in snails, hairtails, croakers, flatfishes, pilchards, plastic boxes, and water samples. Conclusions These results indicate an increased prevalence of V. cholerae contamination in fishery products in fall, including food contact samples, which can be vehicles for cross-contamination.



1998 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 444-449 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. E. TOWNSEND ◽  
R. L. IRVING ◽  
A. NAQUI

SimPlate for coliforms and Escherichia coli (CEc) is a new method for the detection and quantification of coliforms and E. coli in food. Internal validation of the method was carried out at IDEXX Laboratories (Westbrook, ME) with 180 food samples representing a variety of different food matrices and compared against three-tube MPN (most probable number), VRBA (violet red bile agar) + MUG, and Petrifilm (E. coli count) methods. SimPlate CEc was highly correlated with each of these methods for the quantification of coliform bacteria (r ≥ 0.90). An insignificant number of food samples were found to contain E. coli; therefore, no meaningful correlation data could be generated. Four hundred forty-four additional food samples were tested at five collaborating laboratories for the presence of coliforms and E. coli using SimPlate CEc and either VRBA + MUG or Petrifilm (E. coli count). Regression analysis of data from SimPlate for CEc versus Petrifilm E. coli count plates generated correlation coefficients (r) of at least 0.89 for total coliforms and at least 0.90 for generic E. coli. Correlation coefficients between SimPlate for CEc and VRBA + MUG data were at least 0.90 for coliforms and at least 0.86 for E. coli. SimPlate for CEc demonstrated better recovery of E. coli than Petrifilm when high populations of bacteria were present. E. coli was not detected in 20 of 50 (40%) raw milk samples tested by the Petrifilm method due to the presence of interfering coliform and noncoliform bacteria. It is concluded that SimPlate for CEc is a suitable alternative for determining numbers of coliform bacteria and E. coli in food.



1987 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 991-993
Author(s):  
Paul L Poelma ◽  
Clyde R Wilson ◽  
Wallace H Andrews

Abstract An assay for the enzyme glucuronidase was used to determine the presence of Escherichia coli in selected, naturally contaminated high moisture foods. Raw pork sausage, ground turkey, and ground beef were inoculated into tubes containing the substrate 4-methylumbelliferyl beta-D-glucuronide (MUG) in lauryl tryptose (LT) medium. After incubation at 35°C for 24 h, the inoculated LT-MUG tubes were examined under longwave ultraviolet light for the presence of a fluorogenic glucuronidase end product. A fluorescing tube indicated the presumptive presence of E. coli. The 10 day most probable number method of the AOAC and the LT-MUG procedure gave comparable recoveries of E. coli.



2010 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 1423-1429 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAVIER CASTRO-ROSAS ◽  
EVA MARÍA SANTOS LÓPEZ ◽  
CARLOS ALBERTO GÓMEZ-ALDAPA ◽  
CESAR ABELARDO GONZÁLEZ RAMÍREZ ◽  
JOSÉ ROBERTO VILLAGOMEZ-IBARRA ◽  
...  

The incidence of coliform bacteria (CB), thermotolerant coliforms (TC), Escherichia coli, and Salmonella was determined for zucchini squash fruit. In addition, the behavior of four serotypes of Salmonella and a cocktail of three E. coli strains on whole and sliced zucchini squash at 25 ± 2°C and 3 to 5°C was tested. Squash fruit was collected in the markets of Pachuca city, Hidalgo State, Mexico. CB, TC, E. coli, and Salmonella were detected in 100, 70, 62, and 10% of the produce, respectively. The concentration ranged from 3.8 to 7.4 log CFU per sample for CB, and &lt;3 to 1,100 most probable number per sample for TC and E. coli. On whole fruit stored at 25 ± 2°C or 3 to 5°C, no growth was observed for any of the tested microorganisms or cocktails thereof. After 15 days at 25 ± 2°C, the tested Salmonella serotypes had decreased from an initial inoculum level of 7 log CFU to &lt;1 log, and at 3 to 5°C they decreased to approximately 2 log. Survival of E. coli was significantly greater than for the Salmonella strains at the same times and temperatures; after 15 days, at 25 ± 2°C E. coli cocktail strains had decreased to 3.4 log CFU per fruit and at 3 to 5°C they decreased to 3.6 log CFU per fruit. Both the Salmonella serotypes and E. coli strains grew when inoculated onto sliced squash: after 24 h at 25 ± 2°C, both bacteria had grown to approximately 6.5 log CFU per slice. At 3 to 5°C, the bacterial growth was inhibited. The squash may be an important factor contributing to the endemicity of Salmonella in Mexico.



1994 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philip T Feldsine ◽  
Maria T Falbo-Nelson ◽  
David L Hustead

Abstract The ColiComplete® substrate-supporting disc (SSD) method for simultaneous confirmed total coliform count and Escherichia coli determination in all foods was compared with the AOAC most probable number (MPN) methods 966.23 and 966.24. In this comparative study, 20 water and food types were analyzed; 7 of these foods were naturally contaminated with coliform bacteria, 6 food types were naturally contaminated with E. coli, and the remaining foods were inoculated with coliform bacteria and/or E. coli. Data were analyzed separately for total coliform bacteria and for E. coli. Mean log MPN counts were determined by the SSD method and the appropriate AOAC MPN procedure. Results were then analyzed for mean log MPN differences and variance, according to methods described by AOAC INTERNATIONAL Results for both total conforms and E. coli indicate that the SSD method is equivalent to or better than AOAC MPN methods 966.23 and 966.24.



2015 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ananda Tiwari ◽  
Seppo I. Niemelä ◽  
Asko Vepsäläinen ◽  
Jarkko Rapala ◽  
Seija Kalso ◽  
...  

The purpose of this equivalence study was to compare an alternative method, Colilert-18 Quanti-Tray (ISO 9308-2) with the European bathing water directive (2006/7/EC) reference method, the miniaturised most probable number (MMPN) method (ISO 9308-3), for the analysis of Escherichia coli. Six laboratories analysed a total of 263 bathing water samples in Finland. The comparison was carried out according to ISO 17994:2004. The recovery of E. coli using the Colilert-18 method was 7.0% and 8.6% lower than that of the MMPN method after 48 hours and 72 hours of incubation, respectively. The confirmation rate of presumptive E. coli-positive wells in the Colilert-18 and MMPN methods was high (97.8% and 98.0%, respectively). However, the testing of presumptive E. coli-negative but coliform bacteria-positive (yellow but not fluorescent) Colilert-18 wells revealed 7.3% false negative results. There were more false negatives in the naturally contaminated waters than in the samples spiked with waste water. The difference between the recovery of Colilert-18 and the MMPN method was considered not significant, and subsequently the methods are considered as equivalent for bathing water quality monitoring in Finland. Future bathing water method equivalence verification studies may use the data reported herein. The laboratories should make sure that any wells showing even minor fluorescence will be determined as positive for E. coli.



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