Molecular epidemiology of microorganisms isolated from food workers and enteral feeding of public hospitals.

UNLABELLED: This study aimed to compare strains of Staphylococcus aureus and E. coli isolated from food workers and enteral diet samples obtained from 2 public hospitals (H1/H2) in Goiania, Goias, Brazil, by the means of antibiogram and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). In the H1, strains of S. aureus were present in 2 enteral diet samples and in 13 food worker swabs. Strains of E. coli were found in an enteral diet sample from H1 and in 2 enteral diet samples from H2 and in 6 food worker swabs in the H1 and in 12 food worker swabs from H2. According to the antibiogram, the 6 susceptibility profiles (A to F) of 15 S. aureus strains colonizing personnel and enteral feeding did not allow the identification of the probable source of diet contamination. All 20 E. coli strains isolated from the H1 and H2 were grouped in 4 phenotypic profiles (A to D). The phenotypes A (H1) and C (H2) showed the same profile for microorganisms isolated from handlers and diets, suggesting more phenotypic similarity among these samples. PFGE genotyping showed that S. aureus isolates from diets were related to a single strain isolated from a food worker suggesting that in this case the reason for the diet contamination may be a result of food handling. The food worker appears to be the most probable source of E. coli contamination for enteral feeding from H2. This fact emphasizes on the food workers as a risk of bacterial transmission for the diets and that the diet chain production must be controlled. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: The study emphasizes the importance of monitoring the enteral diet microbiological quality and the factors associated to its contamination. The study highlights the use of molecular biology as an instrument to correlate strains to determine the origin of the final product contamination.

[Microbiological quality of human milk from a Brazilian milk bank]. / Qualidade microbiológica de leite humano obtido em banco de leite.

OBJECTIVE: The objectives of the present study were to determine the prevalence of potentially pathogenic microorganisms that indicate the hygienic and sanitary conditions of human milk samples collected at a Human Milk Bank. METHODS: Three hundred and thirty eight (338) samples of human milk collected from a milk bank in a maternity in the municipality of Goiânia, in the state of Goias, Brazil were submitted to microbiological analysis. The latter were plated on McConkey agar according to the type of bacteria. Among the total number of samples collected, 194 consisted of raw milk and the remaining 144 were pasteurized milk. RESULTS: The presence of Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp., yeasts and molds, and Enterobacteriaceae was verified in the raw milk samples. Staphylococcus aureus were isolated in 10 (5.2%) samples, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 28 (14.4%) samples, Streptococcus spp. in three (1.6%) samples, yeasts and molds in 43 (22.2%) and Enterobacteriaceae in 49 (25.3%) samples. In a hundred and forty four (144) samples which underwent thermal treatment Staphylococcus aureus was detected in five (3.5%) samples, Staphylococcus epidermidis in 15 (10.4%), Staphylococcus lugdenensis in two (1.4%), Streptococcus spp. in four (2.8%), yeasts and molds in 37 (25.7%), and Enterobacteriaceae in nine (6.3%). CONCLUSIONS: Analysis indicated a high degree of contamination in raw human milk, and as for the pasteurized milk, despite elimination of the great majority of potentially pathogenic microorganisms, the percentage of yeasts and molds was higher than in raw milk, demonstrating that a lower degree of initial contamination would be necessary for pasteurization to be an efficient means of microbiological control.

Qualidade microbiológica de leite humano obtido em banco de leite / Microbiological quality of human milk from a Brazilian milk bank

Determinar a prevalência de microorganismos indicadores e potencialmente patogênicos que indicam as condições higiênico-sanitárias das amostras de leite humano ordenhado coletadas em banco de leite. Foram realizadas análises microbiológicas de 338 amostras de leite humano ordenhado, sendo 194 de leite cru e 144, pasteurizado, coletadas em banco de leite humano de um hospital materno infantil de Goiânia, GO. As análises microbiológicas foram realizadas com semeadura em ágar Mc Conkey, de acordo com o tipo de bactéria. No leite cru, verificou-se a presença de Staphylococcus spp. Streptococcus spp., bolores e leveduras e Enterobacteriaceae. Observou-se que Staphylococcus aureus esteve presente em 10 (5,2porcento) amostras. Staphylococcus epidermidis em 28 (14,4porcento), Streptococcus spp. em três (1,6porcento), bolores e leveduras em 43 (22, 2porcento) e Enterobacteriaceae em 49 (25,3porcento). Das 144 amostras de leite humano ordenhado pasteurizado, detectaram-se Staphylococcus aureus em cinco (3,5porcento) , Staphylococcus epidermidis em 15 (10,4porcento), Staphylococcus lugdenesis em duas (1,4porcento), Streptococcus spp. em quatro (2,8porcento), bolores e leveduras em 37 (25,7porcento) e Enterobacteriaceae em nove (6,3porcento). Os resultados mostraram um alto grau de contaminaçäo no leite cru. No leite pasteurizado, apesar da eliminaçäo da grande maioria de microorganismos potencialmente patogênicos, a percentagem de bolores e leveduras excedeu a de leite cru, mostrando a necessidade de obtençäo de um leite com carga microbiana inicial mais baixa para que a pasteurizaçäo seja eficiente no controle microbiológico.