New Developments in Microbial Testing

摘要

Quick detection of bacteria can make a critical difference in responding to potentially disastrous food safety situations. This article reviews some foodborne pathogens and recent developments in methods for detecting them. Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an enterohemorrhagic strain that is one of the four recognized classes of enterovirulent E. coli that cause gastroenteritis in humans. While E. coli is a normal inhabitant of the intestines of all animals, including humans, E. coli serotype O157:H7 is a rare variety that produces large quantities of one or more related, potent toxins that cause severe damage to the lining of the intestine.