Escherichia coll infections deriving from milk contamination

摘要

Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections resulting in human illnesses with serious consquences have established a strong association with the consumption of contaminated food of animal origin. The existence of this pathogen in the farm environment, apparently without any associated clinical symptoms in one of its natural reservoirs, cattle, causes significant on-farm food safety problems in controlling this foodborne pathogen. The presence of E. coli O157:H7 in raw milk and dairy products is an indication of transitory animal infections and probable cross contamination in the processing plants or thereafter in the food chain.