O risco das aminas biogênicas nos alimentos / The risk of biogenic amines in food

Aminas biogênicas são bases orgânicas de baixo peso molecular com atividade biológica, produzidas a partir da ação da enzima descarboxilase. Microrganismos utilizados na fermentação de alimentos são capazes de produzi-las. O consumo desses compostos causam graves efeitos toxicológicos, indesejáveis para a saúde humana. Embora não exista legislação específica sobre a quantidade máxima permitida de aminas em alimentos e bebidas, a presença e o acumulo destes compostos é de grande importância. O objetivo desta revisão é evidenciar a necessidade de mais estudos e discutir a presença de aminas biogênicas em alimentos variados.

Biogenic amines are low molecular weight organic bases with biological activity, produced by the action of the decarboxylase enzyme. Microorganisms used in food fermentation are able to produce them. Consumption of these compounds causes serious toxicological effects, which are undesirable for human health. Although there is no specific legislation regarding the amine content in food and beverages, the presence and accumulation of amines is a matter of great importance. The aim of this review is to highlight the need for further studies and foment debate about the presence of biogenic amines in a variety of foods.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles of enterococci isolated from poultry meat and pasteurized milk in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

The enterococci are important nosocomial pathogens with a remarkable capacity of expressing resistance to several antimicrobial agents. Their ubiquitous nature and resistance to adverse environmental conditions take account for their ability to colonize different habitats and for their potential for easy spreading through the food chain. In the present study we evaluated the distribution of species and antimicrobial susceptibility among enterococcal isolates recovered from food obtained in retail stores in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The following species were identified among 167 isolates obtained from poultry meat and 127 from pasteurized milk: Enterococcus faecalis (62.6 percent), E. casseliflavus (17.3 percent), E. durans (6.5 percent), E. gallinarum (3.0 percent), E. gilvus (2.4 percent), E. faecium (2.0 percent), E. hirae (1.4 percent), and E. sulfureus (1.0 percent). The overall percentages of antimicrobial resistant isolates were: 31.2 percent to tetracycline, 23.8 percent to erythromycin, 11.3 percent to streptomycin, 4.3 percent to chloramphenicol, 3.9 percent to gentamicin, 1.4 percent to norfloxacin, 1.1 percent to imipenem, 0.7 percent to ciprofloxacin, nitrofurantoin, and penicillin, and 0.4 percent to ampicillin. Intermediate resistance was detected in frequencies varying from 0.5 percent for linezolid to 58.2 percent for erythromycin. None of the isolates showed resistance to glycopeptides. High-level resistance to aminoglycosides was observed in 13.1 percent of the isolates. Multiresistance was observed in E. faecalis, E. casseliflavus, E. faecium, E. gallinarum, E. durans and E. gilvus.