Resumo

LEYVA, Virginia et al. First study on Enterobacter sakazakii in foodstuffs in Cuba. Rev Cubana Salud Pública [online]. 2008, vol.34, n.4, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-3127.

Introduction Enterobacter sakazakii is an emerging pathogen that has been isolated in milk powder preparations for infant in the last few years. Practically there is no research works about this microorganism in developing countries; in Cuba this is the first study. Objectives To detect the presence of E. sakazakii in imported milk powder samples. Methods Sixty samples of whole and skimmed powdered milk imported from 9 countries were analyzed. Before applying API 20E Kit, the recommended technique by US regulatory bodies including conventional biochemical tests was used. Kligler´s iron agar and Simmons´s citrate agar were employed; other tests such as obtaining of triptophane from indole, Voges Proskauer reaction, methyl red, lysine and ornitine decarboxylation, arginine dihydrolysis, production of sucrose acid, dulcit, adonit, raffinose and sorbitol were performed in presumptive Enterobacter strains. Results Enterobacteria were isolated in 26 samples. Just one strain was classified as E. sakasakii using the traditional biochemical tests and further confirmed by API 20E for 1.6 % possitivity of the sample. Conclusions Generally speaking, the microbiological quality of powered milk samples was good. The technique used to determine E. sakazakii in powered milk samples, including conventional biochemical tests, is feasible to be performed in Cuba in order to reduce costs inherent to the use of API 20E. It is important to conduct these studies in hospital settings, particularly in those areas where milk formulae for neonates are prepared.

Palavras-chave : Enterobacter sakazakii; enterobacteria; powdered milk; Cuba.