Screening the dehydrated powdered infant formulae for Cronobacter spp.

Abstract

Cronobacter spp. is an opportunistic bacterium that is associated with infection outbreaks in neonates and infants due to the consumption of powdered infant formulas (PIF). In this context, the official regulator sector has created the specific standards for the industries to control these pathogens in the PIF. The present study aimed at evaluating the occurrence of Cronobacter spp. in 60 samples of PIF commercialized in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Thirty samples of infant formulas (0-6 months) and 30 samples of follow-up infant formulas (> 6 months) were analyzed according to the conventional methodologies described in the Bacteriological Analytical Manual Online-FDA (2012). The identification of characteristic colonies was performed using kits ID32E, API20E andVitek 2.0 system and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the gluA gene. No sample showed contamination by Cronobacter spp. The occurrence of Cronobacter spp. in PIF seems to be low, indicating that the producers are complying with the provisions of the Brazilian standards in force to avoid the product contamination by this microorganism.