Potential Public Health Significance of Non-Escherichia coli Coliforms in Food

1979 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
ROBERT M. TWEDT ◽  
BRENDA K. BOUTIN

Several coliform species other than Escherichia coli are often associated with and possibly responsible for acute and chronic diarrheal disease. Recent evidence suggests that non-Escherichia coli coliforms may be capable of colonizing the human intestine and producing enterotoxin(s) in high-yield. Whether these organisms are newly capable of causing disease because of infestation with extrachromosomal factors mediating pathogenicity or simply because of inherent pathogenic capabilities that have gone unrecognized, they pose a potential health hazard. Food, medical, and public health microbiologists should be aware that the non-E. coli coliforms contaminating foods may be potential enteropathogens. This possibility may make determination of their pathogenic capabilities even more important than identification of their taxonomic characteristics.

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2552
Author(s):  
Anja Müller ◽  
Diana Seinige ◽  
Nils T. Grabowski ◽  
Birte Ahlfeld ◽  
Min Yue ◽  
...  

Insects as novel foods are gaining popularity in Europe. Regulation (EU) 2015/2283 laid the framework for the application process to market food insects in member states, but potential hazards are still being evaluated. The aim of this study was to investigate samples of edible insect species for the presence of antimicrobial-resistant and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Twenty-one E. coli isolates, recovered from samples of five different edible insect species, were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, PCR-based phylotyping, and macrorestriction analysis. The presence of genes associated with antimicrobial resistance or virulence, including stx1, stx2, and eae, was investigated by PCR. All isolates were subjected to genome sequencing, multilocus sequence typing, and serotype prediction. The isolates belonged either to phylogenetic group A, comprising mostly commensal E. coli, or group B1. One O178:H7 isolate, recovered from a Zophobas atratus sample, was identified as a STEC. A single isolate was resistant to tetracyclines and carried the tet(B) gene. Overall, this study shows that STEC can be present in edible insects, representing a potential health hazard. In contrast, the low resistance rate among the isolates indicates a low risk for the transmission of antimicrobial-resistant E. coli to consumers.


1986 ◽  
Vol 49 (7) ◽  
pp. 496-499 ◽  
Author(s):  
CALEB A. MAKUKUTU ◽  
RUFUS K. GUTHRIE

Foods usually served hot were held at various hot-holding temperatures [40°C (104°F) - 60°C (140°F] and were contaminated with fecal Escherichia coli. The contaminated hot foods were held for 1 h at each of the hot-holding temperatures during which the survival of the pathogen in each food type was evaluated. Results showed that E. coli survived hot-holding temperatures in each food type for the whole period of evaluation. A population increase occurred with time at temperatures below 50°C (122°F), while at and above this temperature there was a decrease in population with increasing time in each food type. A two-way analysis of variance using relative rates of increase or decrease (± b) showed food type to be unimportant for survival of the bacteria. A three-way analysis of variance of the same results using mean log CFU/g food showed holding temperature, food type, holding time, and the interactions of temperature and food type; and temperature and time to be significantly important for survival of the bacteria. The public health significance of these findings are discussed.


2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (8) ◽  
pp. 1328-1333 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANGELA COOK ◽  
RICHARD J. REID-SMITH ◽  
REBECCA J. IRWIN ◽  
SCOTT A. McEWEN ◽  
VIRGINIA YOUNG ◽  
...  

This study estimated the prevalence of Escherichia coli isolates in fresh retail milk-fed veal scallopini pieces obtained from grocery stores in Ontario, Canada. In addition, the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance patterns were examined for points of public health significance. One hundred fifty-three milk-fed veal samples were collected over the course of two sampling phases, January to May 2004 and November 2004 to January 2005. E. coli isolates were recovered from 87% (95% confidence interval, 80.54 to 91.83%) of samples, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was conducted on 392 isolates. The prevalence of resistance to one or more antimicrobials was 70% (274 of 392), while the resistance to five or more antimicrobials was 33% (128 of 392). Resistance to ceftiofur (2.8%), ceftriaxone (3.6%), nalidixic acid (12%), and ciprofloxacin (3.8%) alone or in combination was observed. Eighty-five resistance patterns were observed; resistance to tetracycline only (7.4%) was observed most frequently. Individual antimicrobial resistance prevalence levels were compared with grain-fed veal and retail beef data from samples collected in Ontario. In general, resistance to individual antimicrobials was observed more frequently in E. coli isolates from milk-fed veal than in isolates from grain-fed veal and beef. Resistance to one or more antimicrobials and to five or more antimicrobials in E. coli isolates was more frequent in isolates from milk-fed veal than in isolates from grain-fed veal and beef. This study provides baseline data on the occurrence of resistance in E. coli isolates from milk-fed veal that can be compared with data for other commodities. Additionally, E. coli resistance patterns may serve as an indicator of antimicrobial exposure.


Author(s):  
Mohamed-Yousif Ibrahim Mohamed

Campylobacter and Escherichia coli (E. coli) are prominent bacterial causes of human gastroenteritis in the developing countries and the emergence of antibiotic resistance of these bacteria has been widely reported to be on the increase, particularly because of the increase in the number of resistant Campylobacter and E. coli isolated from human infections. The widespread use of antimicrobial drugs for therapeutic, prophylactic, and preventive purposes in modern food animal husbandry is a great concern in terms of the development of antibiotic resistance in many bacteria, and, therefore, a potential public health threat. This review simply describes the occurrence, spreading and public health significance of antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter and E. coli.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Dechasa Adare Mengistu ◽  
Sina Temesgen Tolera

Background. The issue of microbial quality and safety of ready-to-eat foods has become a public health concern that needs to be addressed to protect the consumer’s health. Contamination of ready-to-eat foods by enteric pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella, and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria is associated with potential health risks and can cause foodborne outbreaks. Thus, the systematic review and meta-analysis aimed at determining the overall evidence on the prevalence of microorganisms of public health significance in ready-to-eat foods based on previous studies. Methods. The articles published from 2015 to 2020 were searched from multiple electronic databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Science Direct, Web of Science, and the Directory of Open Access Journals. The JBI critical appraisal tool was applied to the included articles. To determine the heterogeneity among the included articles, I 2 statistics were used while publication bias was evaluated using the visual funnel plot. A Forest plot using the random effect model for meta-analysis was used to estimate the pooled prevalence of E. coli, Salmonella, and S. aureus in ready to eat foods. Results. The pooled prevalence of E. coli, Salmonella, and S. aureus in ready to eat foods was 33.8% (95% CI: 19.9, 51.2; Q   value = 67.080 , I 2 = 89.56 % ), 26.0% (95% CI: 13.8, 43.6%; Q   value = 83.67 , I 2 = 91.63 % ), and 46.3% (95% CI: 24.8, 69.4%, I 2 = 94.9 % ), respectively. Conclusion. The findings show that contamination of ready-to-eat foods with pathogenic microorganisms continues to be a public health risk. Thus, effective food hygiene and safety systems are necessary to protect the health of the consumers and the public as a whole.


1998 ◽  
Vol 168 (07) ◽  
pp. 767-791 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.G. Ptitsyna ◽  
G. Villoresi ◽  
L.I. Dorman ◽  
N. Iucci ◽  
Marta I. Tyasto

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 434
Author(s):  
Pascaline Bahati ◽  
Xuejun Zeng ◽  
Ferdinand Uzizerimana ◽  
Ariunsaikhan Tsoggerel ◽  
Muhammad Awais ◽  
...  

In the food industry, microbiological safety is a major concern. Mycotoxin patulin represents a potential health hazard, as it is heat-resistant and may develop at any stage during the food chain, especially in apple-based products, leading to severe effects on human health, poor quality products, and profit reductions. The target of the study was to identify and characterize an excellent adsorbent to remove patulin from apple juice efficiently and to assess its adsorption mechanism. To prevent juice fermentation and/or contamination, autoclaving was involved to inactivate bacteria before the adsorption process. The HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) outcome proved that all isolated strains from kefir grains could reduce patulin from apple juice. A high removal of 93% was found for juice having a 4.6 pH, 15° Brix, and patulin concentration of 100 μg/L by Lactobacillus kefiranofacien, named JKSP109, which was morphologically the smoothest and biggest of all isolates in terms of cell wall volume and surface area characterized by SEM (Scanning electron microscopy) and TEM (transmission electron microscopy). C=O, OH, C–H, and N–O were the main functional groups engaged in patulin adsorption indicated by FTIR (Fourier transform–infrared). E-nose (electronic nose) was performed to evaluate the aroma quality of the juices. PCA (Principal component analysis) results showed that no significant changes occurred between control and treated juice.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S821-S821
Author(s):  
Niyati H Shah ◽  
Brooke K Decker ◽  
Brooke K Decker ◽  
Gaetan Sgro ◽  
Monique Y Boudreaux-Kelly ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The IDSA recommends against screening for and treating ASB in all patients except for those pregnant or undergoing urologic procedures. Nevertheless, antibiotic treatment of ASB is widespread. We conducted a retrospective analysis of physician practices in diagnosis and management of Escherichia coli (E. coli) ASB in a male Veteran population, and compared outcomes in ASB patients treated or not treated with antibiotics. Methods Patients with an E. coli positive urine culture during an ED visit or inpatient admission from 01/2017 to 12/2017 were screened. Patients admitted to the intensive care unit or diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, or epididymitis/orchitis were excluded. A total of 163 patients were included. Demographics, clinical comorbidities and severity of illness, and outcomes were compared in ASB patients managed with or without antibiotics. ANOVA and Chi-square or Fisher’s exact tests were utilized for comparing measurements. Results ASB was present in 92/163 patients. The majority (74%) of these patients were given antibiotics. Regardless of qSOFA score or alternate infection, there were no significant differences in outcomes between ASB patients treated or not treated with antibiotics: 3-month mortality (15% vs 21%; p = 0.53), emergence of newly resistant bacterial pathogens (7% vs 13%; p = 0.43), recurrent urinary tract infections (61% vs 50%; p = 0.72), clearance of urinary pathogens (75% vs 58%; p = 0.45), length of hospital stay (7 vs 6 days, p = 0.67). Factors that were predictive of physician treatment of ASB included patient comorbid conditions such as benign prostatic hyperplasia, pyuria, and the absence of hematuria. The incidence of adverse events with antibiotic treatment of ASB was low. Conclusion The rate of antibiotic treatment of E. coli ASB in male veterans is high. Outcomes do not differ among ASB patients managed with or without antibiotics. Future studies examining outcomes in patients prescribed antibiotics for multiple episodes of ASB may yield differences, particularly in emergence of resistant pathogens. Focusing on patients with comorbid conditions who are not critically ill would be a high yield target for provider education to reduce ASB treatment. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pouya Reshadi ◽  
Fatemeh Heydari ◽  
Reza Ghanbarpour ◽  
Mahboube Bagheri ◽  
Maziar Jajarmi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Transmission of antimicrobial resistant and virulent Escherichia coli (E. coli) from animal to human has been considered as a public health concern. This study aimed to determine the phylogenetic background and prevalence of diarrheagenic E. coli and antimicrobial resistance in healthy riding-horses in Iran. In this research, the genes related to six main pathotypes of E. coli were screened. Also, genotypic and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance against commonly used antibiotics were studied, then phylo-grouping was performed on all the isolates. Results Out of 65 analyzed isolates, 29.23 % (n = 19) were determined as STEC and 6.15 % (n = 4) as potential EPEC. The most prevalent antimicrobial resistance phenotypes were against amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (46.2 %) and ceftriaxone (38.5 %). blaTEM was the most detected resistance gene (98.4 %) among the isolates and 26.15 % of the E. coli isolates were determined as multi-drug resistant (MDR). Three phylo-types including B1 (76.92 %), A (13.85 %) and D (3.08 %) were detected among the isolates. Conclusions Due to the close interaction of horses and humans, these findings would place emphasis on the pathogenic and zoonotic potential of the equine strains and may help to design antimicrobial resistance stewardship programs to control the dissemination of virulent and multi-drug resistant E. coli strains in the community.


1975 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 431-440 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. A. Ayres

SUMMARYIncidents of non-specific illness associated with the consumption of oysters have highlighted the lack of published information on the bacteriology of shellfish suitable for consumption. Investigations showed that the majority of molluscan shellfish entering English markets conform to the accepted standard of less than 5 Escherichia coli/ml. tissue. The numbers of E. coli were related to the sanitary quality of the growing area but no relation could be established between numbers of E. coli and coliforms, faecal streptococci or Clostridium welchii. The numbers of non-specific bacteria varied considerably but shellfish from sources associated with non-specific illness yielded relatively high counts at 37° C. The results showed that there was no justification for a standard based on total plate counts, which often exceeded 106/g. Such a standard would have to be coupled with spoilage or the incidence of non-specific illness. The relation between the numbers of non-specific bacteria growing at 20 and 37° C. appears to be a useful measure for assessing the likelihood that raw shellfish are a public health risk.


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