Evaluation of two enrichment broths, three plating media and ELISA technique for the isolation of salmonella from dairy products

Salmonella is one of the most important food-borne pathogens that can be transmitted through the consumption of contaminated milk and milk products. Early detection of Salmonella in food is important for food safety. Two selective media, brilliant green agar [BGA] and xylose lysine desoxycholate [XLD] agar are commonly used in diagnostic laboratories for the isolation of Salmonella, often after enrichment of the samples in a broth before plating on the solid medium. Recently, a new medium called CHROmagar Salmonella [CAS] has become available for the rapid detection of Salmonella. In the present study, we compared this new medium with BGA and XLD for the isolation of Salmonella from 160 dairy products samples [80 ice cream and 80 kariesh cheese samples] with enrichment in Rappaport- Vassiliadis [RV] and tetrathionate [TT] broth. TECRA Unique Salmonella ELISA test was used. Only one sample was positive for Salmonella, which appeared on each of CAS and XLD agars, after enrichment using RV but not TT. This was associated with a sensitivity and specificity of [100%, 92.45%], [100%, 93.71%] and [0%, 100%] for each of CHROmagar Salmonella, XLD and BGA respectively. TECRA Unique Salmonella test yielded the highest sensitivity and specificity among all used methods; it had 100% sensitivity with 100% specificity

Bacteriological quality of some dairy products [Kariesh cheese and ice cream] in Alexandria

The present study estimated the total viable bacterial density, total and faecal coliforms, and E. coli in Kariesh cheese and ice cream. The study included 160 ice cream and Kariesh cheese samples [80 samples each]. Ice cream samples were 47 packed [33 cup and 14 stick] and 33 open samples while Kariesh cheese samples were 62 open, 18 packed samples [8 of known brand and 10 of unknown brand]. Samples were collected from supermarkets, shops and street vendors. All samples were analyzed for enumeration of total viable heterotrophic bacteria using standard pour plate method, and for the determination of the total coliforms, fecal coliforms and E. coli using multiple tube dilution method. Ice cream samples, showed that the total bacterial count was >/= 1.5x105 cfu/g in 26 [32.5%] samples, total coliforms were >/= 10 MPN/g in 36 [45.0%] samples, fecal coliforms were detected in 45 [56.3%] samples, and E. coli was detected in 34 [42.5%]. Kariesh cheese samples, showed a total coliforms of >/= 10 MPN/g in 54 [67.5%] samples, while fecal coliforms were detected in 64 [80%] samples, and E. coli was detected in 60 [75%]. It is recommended to use and implement immediate regulatory measures like good manufacturing practices as well as distribution and retail storage practices for ensuring microbiological safety of ice cream and Kariesh cheese

A study of the hygienic condition and chemical composition of some canned meat products

The present study was carried out to give an overall picture of the microbial, chemical and organoleptic qualities of some canned meal products present in Alexandria market. It was observed that imported corned beef showed the best chemical and organoleptic qualities, i.e. high protein content, low fat content and highest scores in flavor, texture and color. On the contrary, locally manufactured products showed lower chemical and organoleptic qualities. However, higher loads of organisms were detected in imported samples. E. coli was isolated from one can of imported corned beef

Morphotyping as a tool for characterization of candida albicans

A new morphological system was used to differentiate clinical [mainly diabetics] and environmental C. Albicans isolates. The numerical codes were assigned primarily on the basis of the nature and extent of marginal fringing and the surface topography of the streak colony. Such differentiation reveals special types that were confined to clinical isolates and others for environmental ones. While 2 types showed in both isolates, this may indicate the importance of environmental isolates in transmitting diseases. The system was a simple and reproducible means for epidemiological studies of Candida and Candidosis

Bacteriology of chronic secretory otitis media in children

One hundred and four effusions from 66 children with CSOM ware cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. Fifty percent of all effusions yielded bacterial growth and Gram negative organisms constituted 69.2% of those isolates. H. influenza was the most commonly isolated organisms [36.5%] followed by B Catarrhalis and Str. Pneumoniae. All B. catarrhalis Staph. aureus and pseudomonas isolates were resistant to ampicillin while cefotaxime was active against all the isolated Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria. Considering B-lactase production, all the isolated Staph. aureus were BLPs while in case of Gram negative bacteria, not all the ampicillin resistant strains were BLPs

Assessment of aeromonas species as a new indicator for water pollution in Alexandria

Water from Mahmoudia Canal, Mariout Lake and seawater were examined [309 samples] by the suitable scientific microbiological techniques. The results indicate the presence of Aeromonas species in different Alexandria surface water with densities more in fresh than sea water and that it has correlation with other traditional indicators especially in fresh water. It may be concluded that Aeromonas can be used as a water indicator in fresh waters but difficult to use in sea water

role of non tuberculous mycobacteria in some pulmonary diseases

This study aims to evaluate the role of NTM in clinically diagnosed pulmonary tuberculosis patients. NTM constitute 8.11% of the isolated mycobacterial strains. [MAC] was the most prevalent species [7 out of 24]. The incidence of NTM diseases were found to be most common in patients with previous lung diseases and those who worked in dusty occupation especially from rural areas. Males represented 95.8% of the NTM cases. GLC gave definite results for NTM identification to species level. From the results obtained, it was concluded that NTM pulmonary diseases, provide a serious diagnostic and therapeutic problem since they could not be differentiated clinically or radiologically from pulmonary tuberculosis. NTM, being highly resistant to most of antituberculous drugs, could be considered as an important cause of treatment failure and chronicity among these patients; therefore, isolation and identification of mycobacteria to their specific species is important for successful regimen

Bacteriological monitoring of hemodialysis system: II-bacterial contamination of dialysis fluid

This work included samples collected from the pre and post dialysis fluid, 201 samples each ten samples from the concentrated dialysate, monthly samples from pipe water, deionized and reverse osmosis [RO]. In addition 50 samples were collected from the storage tank at different periods following its disinfection. Gram positive cocci were the main organisms isolated from both pre and post dialysis fluids 48.7% and 48.6% respectively. All samples from dialy sate concentrate were sterile. The bacterial count was higher in post dialysis than in predialysis fluid, reaching less than 8000/m1 and more than 20.000/m1 respectively. The increase of the distance between the storage tank and individual machines was associated with higher counts. The RO system showed a lesser bacterial count than the softener and storage tank. Cobe machine had a higher post dialysis count than the Gambro machines. From this study, it is important to collect samples from pre and post dialysis fluid periodically for bacteriological monitoring to keep it at the least allowable count. If storage tank should be included in the system, weekly disinfection is a must. A shorter distance of the piping lines reaching each machine is perferrable

Bacteriological study among peritoneal dialysis patients

Thirty patients with chronic renal failure [CRF] on peritoneal dialysis were bacteriologically studied. The outflow dialysate of peritoneal dialysis yielded 48 bacterial isolates, of these, 64.6% were Gram-positive cocci, 22.9% were Gram-negative bacilli and 12.5% were Gram-positive bacilli. Nine patients out of 30 peritoneal dialysis patients developed peritonitis. The bacterial count reached up to 4000/ml in cases of peritonitis, while it did not exceed 100/ml in its absence. Also, the white blood cell count reached up to 1100/ml in peritonitis, while it did not exceed 200/ml in its absence. In cases of gram negative bacilli infection, the white cell count reached up to 1100/ml; while in Staph. aureus, it did not exceed 850/ml. This proved that there was a direct relation between the appearance of symptoms and signs of peritonitis and bacterial and cellular counts of the outflow dialysate. So, efforts should be directed towards the early detection and prevention of peritonitis with the recommendation of the use of prophylactic antibiotics

Urinary tract infection among diabetic patients in Alexandria

Bacterial count and urine culture were performed on mid stream voided urine samples from 1175 diabetic cases and 900 controls. True bacteriuria 10**5 CFU was found to be higher in diabetics as compared with the control group being for females 22.57% and 2.25% respectively and for males f14.52% and 7% respectively. High incidence of infection of urinary tract among females in age group 30-45 years was found among insulin dependent and insulin independent diabetics. The most frequent microorganism isolated from bacteriuria diabetic cases was E. coli. All the isolated microorganisms sensitive to Rifampicin and Nitrofurantoin

Urinary tract infection among hospitalized patients: evaluation of rapid methods for its detection

Urinary tract infections were searched for among 2200 patients admitted in three main hospitals in Alexandria. Of them 231 [10.5%] showed 105 or more colony forming units/ml in their urine by culturing technique. Age and sex and a significant role in the distribution of bacteriuria. E. coli was the organism of highest prevalence among bacteruria cases. The isolated organisms showed highest sensetivity to Cefobid, Amikacin and Nitrofurantion. The validity of six rapid screening test was also evaluated in relation to the conventional culturing method. The highest diagnostic efficiency was found in relation to bacterial counting in the sediment of the centrifuged urine