Antibiotic Resistance and Molecular Characterization of Cronobacter sakazakii Strains Isolated from Powdered Infant Formula Milk

Abstract

Background: Cronobacter sakazakii is a new emerging foodborne bacterial pathogen associated with severe lethal diseases such as meningitis, necrotizing enterocolitis, and septicemia in infants and neonates. Powdered infant formula milk (PIFM) has been recognized as one of the main transmission vehicles and contaminated sources of this pathogen. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence rate, genotypic and phenotypic antibiotic resistance profile, and clonal relatedness of C. sakazakii strains isolated from 364 PIFM samples collected from Tehran city, Iran. Methods: Culture-based methods, Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion antibiotic resistance testing, conventional Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR) assays were used in this study to detect and characterize the C. sakazakii isolates. Results: We isolated 25 C. sakazakii strains from PIFM samples (6.86%). The isolates were highly resistant to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid, amoxicillin, ampicillin, cefoxitin, cefepime, erythromycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and chloramphenicol and susceptible to gentamicin, tetracycline, norfloxacin, and azithromycin antibiotics. The blaCTX-M-1 gene was detected in 96% of the isolates. The isolates were categorized into eight distinct clonal types using the ERIC-PCR method, showing a high genetic diversity among the isolates. However, there was a significant correlation between the genotypic and phenotypic antibiotic resistance properties of the isolates. Conclusions: Novel microbial surveillance systems for detecting multi-drug-resistant C. sakazakii are required to control the contamination of this foodborne pathogen in infant foods.

Prevalence of Symptomatic Bacteriuria and Associated Risk Factors among Patients Attending Major Hospitals in Calabar, Nigeria

“…This study revealed the presence of Cronobacter sp in the analyzed urine samples. Cronobacter sp had been reported as emerging pathogens from infant food [41] . The incidence of UTI cause by Cronobacter sp in the study area is rear.…”

Ultra-Sensitive and Rapid Detection of Pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica Based on the CRISPR/Cas12a Nucleic Acid Identification Platform

“…Nucleic acid detection methods for pathogenic Y. enterocolitica are mainly based on PCR, multiplex PCR, qPCR, and RPA [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. Although PCR is widely used for foodborne pathogenic bacteria [ 17 ], the associated complex (high-cost) instrumentation and laboratory requirements for visualization of the results (gel electrophoresis) with traditional PCR can prohibit its use in underdeveloped countries/regions with limited resources, and in onsite diagnostics [ 18 ]. Compared with PCR, the amplification process of qPCR is presented in real time [ 19 ], and it can provide more robust, specific, and sensitive quantitative results.…”

Infant Formula Supply Problems and Public Health

“…15 Although clinical cases are rare, they can be severe, and cases of meningitis and septicemia do occur at both extremes of the age range. 15…”

“…14 A review from Switzerland found that Cronobacter contamination is widespread with a prevalence of 3% to 30% in powdered milk products. 15 Although clinical cases are rare, they can be severe, and cases of meningitis and septicemia do occur at both extremes of the age range. 15 Other contaminants have also been found in infant formula from time to time.…”

“…15 Although clinical cases are rare, they can be severe, and cases of meningitis and septicemia do occur at both extremes of the age range. 15 Other contaminants have also been found in infant formula from time to time. These include other bacteria, aflatoxins, and heavy metals.…”