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This study assessed the presence of Staphylococcus strains associated with the ready‐to‐eat meat product, biltong, (n = 26), at point of sale. Traditional beef, spiced/flavored beef, chicken and venison biltong varieties were purchased from local retailers, butcheries and street vendors. Samples were prepared for aerobic counts, yeast counts and presumptive Staphylococcus counts using standard spread plating techniques. Presumptive Staphylococcus aureus strains were selected using Pake's disk and characterized using a dichotomous key. Eleven of these strains were selected and further identified using 16S rDNA sequence analysis. Five of these, representing different species of Staphylococcus, were tested for enterotoxin production using the Set‐RPLA toxin detection kit. Of the three biltong varieties, the chicken and venison consistently showed the highest counts across all types of media used (ca. 7 log colony forming units (cfu)/g), while the spiced biltong varieties generally showed lowest counts (ca. 5.5 log cfu/g). All 11 strains were identified by 16S rDNA sequence analysis as members of the Staphylococcus genus. Of these, five clustered with other Staphylococcus equorum strains, two with the Staphylococcus saprophyticus/Staphylococcus xylosus group, two with Staphylococcus succinus isolates and one each with Staphylococcus piscifermentans or S. aureus clusters. Enterotoxins staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) and staphylococcal enterotoxin D (SED) were produced by two of the isolates indicating foodborne illness implications. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS Biltong is a South African dried meat commodity which is a national favorite. However, very few studies have been conducted on the microbiological safety of biltong, as it has traditionally been seen as “safe” due to a low water activity (0.77) and pH (5.5). This preliminary study identified the presence of various strains of Staphylococcus associated with biltong product at point of sale in South Africa, and showed that some of these isolates, including Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus equorum strains, held foodborne illness implications as they produced staphylococcal enterotoxins. This is the first such report on the presence of enterotoxin‐producing Staphylococcus in biltong and contributes new knowledge to food processors in South Africa relating to production of safe dried meat products.

PurposeThe aim of this paper is to evaluate the hygiene of surfaces that come into direct contact with the ready to eat dried meat product, biltong, at point‐of‐sale in three different retailers in Johannesburg, South Africa, by investigating the presence of indicator organisms.Design/methodology/approachSamples were collected and plated in duplicate for aerobic plate, total Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms and Escherichia coli counts using standard methods. Typical E. coli colonies on Rapid E. coli 2 Agar™ were selected and further identified using 16S rDNA molecular sequencing methods.FindingsBacterial counts associated with biltong product ranged between 6–7 Log CFU/g, while counts on cutting utensils ranged between 5–6 Log CFU/cm2. Overall, the lowest counts were associated with display cabinets (2–6 Log CFU/cm2). Predominant populations were often similar between biltong product and various surface samples, indicating potential cross‐contamination. Results from 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that E. coli strains isolated from biltong product and correspondingly from cutting utensils, were 100 per cent genetically similar. Strains of potential pathogens belonging to the Shigella dysenteriae group (99 per cent) were also identified.Originality/valueThis paper highlights that surfaces in direct contact with biltong, an increasingly popular dried meat commodity worldwide, may act as potential sources for cross‐contamination of product with potential food‐borne pathogens, which may hold foodborne illness implications.

Background: Early infant diagnosis (EID) of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and early initiation of antiretroviral therapy (ART) in HIV-infected infants can reduce the risk of mortality and improve clinical outcomes. Infant testing guidelines in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, changed from targeted birth EID (T-EID) only in high-risk infants to a routine birth EID (R-EID) testing strategy in 2015.Objectives: To describe the impact of the implementation of R-EID on the infant treatment cascade.Method: A retrospective analysis of a facility-based clinical database for the eThekwini district and the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) was conducted. All data on neonates (< 4 weeks of age) diagnosed with HIV between January 2013 and December 2017 (T-EID [2013(T-EID [ -2015 and R-EID [2016][2017]) were extracted including follow-up until 1 year post-diagnosis.Results: A total of 503 neonates were diagnosed HIV-infected, with 468 (93.0%) initiated on ART within a median of 6 days. There was a significant increase in the estimated percentage of HIV-infected neonates diagnosed (21% vs. 86%, p < 0.001) and initiated on ART (90% vs. 94.3%, p < 0.001) between the T-EID and R-EID periods. Despite achieving over 90% of HIV-infected neonates diagnosed and initiated on ART in 2017, retention in care and viral suppression remained low. Conclusion:Implementation of R-EID in eThekwini district improved diagnosis and initiation of ART in HIV-infected neonates and should be recommended as part of diagnostic guidelines. These gains are, however, lost because of poor retention in care and viral suppression rates and therefore required urgent attention.