Occurrence of Enterobacter sakazakii (Cronobacter) and Other Enterobacteriaceae in Commercial Powdered Infant Formula in Abidjan, Ivory Coast

摘要

To determine the occurrence of Enterobacter sakazakii and other Enerobateriaceae in commercial powdered infant formula (PIF), 185 packages of PIF from different manufacturers, supermarkets and drug-stores in Abidjan were analyzed. Ten g of sample was homogenized in 90 ml of buffered peptone water (PBW, Biorad, Paris) for further studies. Enterobacteriaceae (coliforms) were enumerated according to French Association of Standardization methods. E. sakazakii was detected according to Kandhai’s method. Bacteria were identified using API20 system. Thirty-eight samples (20.5%) were positive for Enterobacteriaceae. Twenty-four samples (13%) yielded Enterobacter sakazakii. Other Enterobacteriaceae isolated included Pantoea spp. 21 (11.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. Pneumonia 8 (4.3%), Citrobacter diversus 1 (0.5%), Citrobacter freundii 1 (0.5%), Enterobacter cloacae 1 (0.5%), Salmonella reading 1 (0.5%), Serratia ficara 1 (0.5%) Serratia odorifera 1 (0.5%). This study is the first report to describe the contamination of PIF from Abidjan with E. sakazakii and several other Enterobacteriaceae that could be opportunistic pathogens. Therefore, well-controlled studies need to be conducted to assess the extent of risk associated with contaminated PIF for infants in Abidjan.