With increasing concern about the occurrence of Enterobacter sakazakii infections in neonates who have been fed milk-based powdered infant formula, new Oxoid Chromogenic Enterobacter sakazakii Agar (Druggan-Forsythe-Iversen formulation) provides a valuable tool for food testing laboratories.
The new agar allows recovery and detection of E. sakazakii in just three days two days faster than by conventional methods.
Infants born prematurely and those with underlying medical conditions are at the highest risk of developing E. sakazakii infection. Cases of meningitis, septicaemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis due to E. sakazakii have been reported worldwide.
Clusters of E. sakazakii infections linked to powdered infant formula products from various manufacturers have been reported in a number of countries. Outbreaks have also occurred in neonatal intensive care units1.
When compared with the current FDA method, all clinical and food strains of E. sakazakii (95/95) were detected on the new Oxoid Chromogenic Enterobacter sakazakii Agar two days sooner than the alternative method2.
Pre-enrichment and selective enrichment are followed by plating samples onto Oxoid Chromogenic Enterobacter sakazakii Agar where E. sakazakii is seen as easily distinguishable blue-green colonies.
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Oxoid Ltd is based in Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK. www.oxoid.com
