Aerobic Bacterial Counts Research Articles

Impact of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point System (HACCP) Application for Production of High Quality and Safe Table Eggs at Alexandria Governorate

HACCP is an important system for producing safe eggs from poultry farms. Also, HACCP helps to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses associated with eggs by ensuring that they are produced in a hygienic environment with proper sanitation practices. Therefore, 120 eggs representing 24 groups (5 eggs group) were collected from one poultry farm before and after the application of the HACCP system (12 groups before and 12 groups after application of HACCP system) located in Alexandria governorate. The obtained results revealed that the poultry farm after application of HACCP system produced safe eggs with lower aerobic bacterial count and yeast & mould counts than the results of the same farm before application of HACCP system. In addition, egg content from the farm after application of HACCP system is free from pathogenic microorganisms (Salmonella species and Escherichia coli), free from toxic elements (Lead and Cadmium) and free from veterinary drug residues. While the results from the same farm before application of HACCP system produced eggs with a higher incidence of total bacterial, yeast & mould count. Besides, two groups of egg from the same farm before application HACCP system were contaminated with Salmonella species which serological identified into Salmonella enteritidis; also, three groups contaminated with Escherichia coli which serologically identified into O91: H21 (EHEC) (2 isolates) and O2: H6 (EPEC) (1 isolate); In addition, egg content from this farm before application HACCP is contaminated with toxic elements such as lead and cadmium with incidence level 75 % and 66.7%, respectively. Finally, examination of veterinary drug residues in the farm before application of HACCP system indicated presence of Tylosin and Oxytetracycline residues in 7 egg groups. Therefore, the application of the HACCP system in poultry farms is essential for ensuring the safety of the eggs produced.

The Effect of Antibiotics Used Throughout Chicken Cycle on the Bacterial Count of Their Meat

There is no doubt that poultry industry is a very useful to our society Therefore poultry meat has its own value even economic value or nutrional value. The feature of poultry meat helps the consumer to obtain the more nutritional value such as Protein, Low fat, Carbs and vitamins. The contamination of poultry meat effects on the quality of meat and its content. Therefore it effects the population and can cuase infectious diseases .The present experiment was conducted on the broilers that obtained from private farm located at Egypt-Alexandria road. The broiler chicks were fed on well-balanced diet. Starter diet was given till the 20th day of age after that chicks were fed on finisher diet which was given from the 21st day till the end of the experiment. Water and food were offered adlibitium. The chicks were housed in clean well ventilated separate experimental rooms, previously fumigated with formalin and potassium permanganate. The floor was bedded by fresh clean chopped wheat straw forming litter of 3.5 cm depth. Each room was provided by suitable numbers of feeders and water utensils. Each group of bird was provided by suitable feeder and water. This study aimed to investigate the effect of antibiotics administrated during broilers chicken cycle on the bacteriological count of their meat through study of: 1- The level of mesophilc, aerobicenterobacteriacae and coliform counts among the breast and thigh samples at 15 day and 35 days of production cycle. 2- The level of mould and yeast counts among the breast and thigh samples at 15 day and 35 days of production cycle. 3- Identification of some isolated mould and yeast.4- Determination of the antibiotic residues among the breast and thigh samples at 15 day and 35 days of production cycle. The Staistical analytical results of Mesophilc aerobic bacterial counts isolated from breast and thigh of broilers at different periods of experiment was 34.15 X 103 ± 14.28 X 103 in breast at day 15 and was 38.64 X 103 ±19.88 X 103 in thigh at day 15. But in day 35 was 82.15 X 103 ± 24.51 X 103 in breast and was 89.91 X 103 ±28.99 X 103 in thigh at day 35 .The results of Enterobacteriaceae bacterial counts isolated from breast and thigh of broilers at different periods of experiment was 4.20 X 102±1.70 X 102 in breast at day 15 and was 1.51 X 103±4.70 X 102 in thigh at day 15 . But in day 35 was 9.04 X 103±3.93 X 103 n breast and was 3.21 X 103±1.32 X 103 in thigh at day 35.The results of Coliforms bacterial counts isolated from breast and thigh of broilers at different periods of experiment was 1.64 X 103 ± 1.13 X 103 in breast at day 15 and was 3.30 X 102± 6 X 10 in thigh at day 15. But in day 35 was 4.5 X 102± 1.7 X 102 in breast and was 7 X 10 ± 2 X 10 in thigh at day 35. Tht results of Moulds counts isolated from breast and thigh of broilers at different periods of experiment was 2 X 10 ± 1.0 X 10 in breast at day 15 and was 2.0 X 10 ± 1.0 X 10 in thigh at day 15. But at day 35 was 3.0 X 10 ± 1.0 X 10 in breast and was 3 X 10 ± 1.0 X 10 in thigh at day 35.The results of Yeast counts isolated from breast and thigh in different time of experiment was 0.04 X 103± 0.02 X 103 in breast at day 15 and was 0.11 X 103 ± 0.05 X 103 in thigh at day15. But at day 35 was 0.03 X 103 ± 0.01 X 103 in breast and was 0.03 X 103± 0.01 X 103 in thigh at day 35.

Exopolysaccharide (EPS) Producing Bacteria of Sundarbans Mangrove Forest Soil

The present study was undertaken to investigate the exopolysaccharide (EPS) producing bacteria from Sundarbans Mangrove Forest (SMF) soil of Bangladesh. The pH and aerobic heterotrophic bacterial counts of the soil samples ranged from 5.83 to 7.77 and 0.87 × 107 to 7.2 × 107 cfu/g, respectively. Potential 18 EPS producing bacterial isolates were selected for detailed study among which 15 were provisionally identified as members of the genus Bacillus, 2 were recognized as Dinococcus sp. and another one as Micrococcus sp. The genus Bacillus includes 7 distinct species viz. B. stearothermophilus, B. subtilis, B. brevis, B. marinus, B. schlegelli, B. pumilus and B. globisporous. The highest EPS production was found in the LB medium. The pHs of 6.5-7.5, 0% salinity, and 37°C temperature were found to be optimum for better growth of EPS producing bacteria. The three EPS producing bacterial isolates i.e. B. pumilus, B. globisporus and B. strearothermophilus were further confirmed through 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The culture and sensitivity (C/S) test results revealed streptomycin (S 10) as the most effective antibiotic to control the tested bacterial isolates. Plant Tissue Cult. & Biotech. 32(2): 145-156, 2022 (December)

BACTERIOLOGICAL AND MYCOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF MIXED VEGETABLE SALADS

Salads are considered healthy food but poor hygienic practices may destroy the quality of salads. The poor quality salads may cause health issues if consumed. A study was carried out to monitor microbiological quality of salads. Samples (n=90) were collected from road side venders, fast food outlets and family restaurants (30/each type), in different localities in Lahore. Samples were processed to determine aerobic bacterial, coliform and fungal counts. The highest mean bacterial count (9.64±2.43), coliform (9.57±2.79) and fungal counts (2.51±2.62) were observed in salads from road side venders. According to the International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF) 73.33 percent of salad samples by bacterial, 98 from coliform and 26.67 by fungal counts were found unacceptable for human consumption. Among isolated bacteria were identified as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiells, Salmonella, Enterobacter, Aeromonas and Bacillus. The predominant fungal species in salads were Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. A. fumigatus is an obligate pathogen and Aflatoxin (B1 and B2) produced by A. flavus cause of mycotoxicosis. It was concluded that the salads from road side venders are source of bacteria and fungi having potential for toxins production.

Effects of storage temperature on microbiota shifts in raw milk biofilm developed on stainless steel

This study aimed to investigate the microbiota in raw milk and the influence of storage temperature on the microbiota shift after biofilm formation. Raw milk stored at 4 °C and biofilms developed in raw milk incubated at 4 °C or 25 °C for 7 days were subjected to microbiota analysis as well as quantitative analyses of aerobic or anaerobic bacteria. The levels of aerobic bacteria increased during biofilm formation, while no significant changes were observed within anaerobic bacteria. In addition, there was a difference between aerobic and anaerobic bacterial counts in raw milk and biofilm stored for 7 days. The pattern of microbial composition differed by temperature. In addition, the genus Pseudomonas (53–71%) occupied a high proportion in raw milk, and the raw milk biofilm developed at 4 °C, while the genus Lactobacillus (75–83%) was predominant in biofilms developed at 25 °C. Intriguingly, bacterial richness was higher in raw milk on day 0 and biofilm developed at 4 °C than raw milk after 7 days of storage at 4 °C. These findings suggest that temperature critically affects the bacterial composition of both raw milk and its associated biofilm.

Comparative Effects of Probiotic, Prebiotic, L-Arginine, and Fenugreek on Some Quality Criteria of Fermented Red Meat Pâtè

The different combinations of bioactive compounds, probiotics (Streptococcus thermophilus ATCC 19258 and Lactobacillus bulgaricus BAA-2844), prebiotic (fructooligosaccharides, FOS), fenugreek, and L-arginine, were added to the pâtė meat. Some pâtė meats were contaminated with Salmonella Typhimurium ATCC 14028 and Listeria monocytogenes ATCC 7644. Fermentation was applied only to batches containing ‘probiotic’ or ‘probiotic and prebiotic’ at two different temperatures, 22 and 37°C. Although fermentation at 37°C in combination with the additions of ‘probiotics, prebiotic and arginine’ and ‘probiotics, prebiotic and fenugreek’ resulted in 2.51 and 2.36 log (cfu/g) reductions on total mesophile aerobic bacterial (TMAB) counts, respectively, these treatments lowered the pH values of pâtė below 4.20 on the 22nd day of storage and caused an uncontrolled fermentation with a sourish taste. On the other hand, the combined additions of ‘probiotics, prebiotic, fenugreek and arginine’ or ‘probiotics, prebiotic and arginine’ or ‘probiotic, prebiotic and fenugreek’ in combination with fermentation at 22°C, caused reductions on TMAB counts between 1.01-1.09 log (cfu/g) with a constant bacteriostatic effect, and extended shelf life 10 days while improving the sensory quality. The addition of fenugreek inhibited Listeria monocytogenes more whereas the antimicrobial effect of L-arginine was more significant on Salmonella Typhimurium. The antimicrobial effect of adding the bioactive compounds in combination with fermentation at 22°C could eliminate the pathogens in the contaminated pâtė meat batches, causing 5.91 and 6.11 log (cfu/g) reductions on the counts of Salmonella Typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes, respectively.

Application of the Hurdle Technology Concept to the Fresh Za'atar (Origanum syriacum) Preservation.

Oregano (Origanum syriacum) is popularly called za’atar in the Middle East region. It is widely used in the Mediterranean diet as an aromatic herb. This study aimed to evaluate the preservation effect of natural additives, vacuum packaging, and refrigeration on the quality traits of fresh oregano. In total, 132 fresh oregano samples were formulated and split into 4 groups (n = 33) labeled group A (100% fresh oregano leaves, Control), group B (fresh oregano 63.2%, 15% fresh onion, 20% oil, 1.8% salt), group C (fresh oregano 61.91%, 15% fresh Allium cepa, 20% oil, 1.8% salt, 1.29% sumac), and group D (fresh oregano 59.2%, 15% fresh Allium cepa, 20% corn oil, 1.8% salt, 4% lactic acid, ultimate pH 4.4). Different quality traits such as color index (L*a*b*), microbiological analysis (total aerobic, anaerobic, and psychrotrophic bacteria and yeasts and molds), and sensory features (taste, flavor, appearance, saltiness, and overall acceptance) were assessed during the storage period (42 days) for all groups. Our study showed that the addition of lactic acid (group D) exhibited a strong preservation effect against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria. In this context, group D had significantly lower aerobic and anaerobic bacterial counts (5.12 vs. 6.7, 6, and 6.7 log (cfu/g); p < 0.05) and (4.75 vs. 6.6, 6.1, 6.77 (cfu/g); p < 0.05) than group A, B, and C; respectively. Group D exhibited significantly (p < 0.05) lower psychrotrophic bacterial count (3.6 log (cfu/g)) during the whole period of storage compared with control. Group B had a lower redness index (a*) (−3.3 vs. −1.8, −1.65, −1.23; p < 0.05) than groups A, C, and D; respectively. In conclusion, our study showed that there is a possibility of improving the preservation of oregano (Origanum syriacum) by using lactic acid and sumac combined with vacuum packaging under refrigeration conditions.

Intermittent fasting positively modulates human gut microbial diversity and ameliorates blood lipid profile.

AimThe aim was to evaluate the impact of intermittent fasting (IF) on human body mass index (BMI) and serum lipid profile thorough constructive rectification of gut microbiota.Methods and resultsFourteen healthy women and thirty-one men were included in the study. Their blood and fecal samples were collected before and at the end of the study. Blood parameters, anthropometric values, and gut microbiology were noted to investigate the impact of intermittent fasting (IF) on human gut microbiota and physiology. Our data revealed that IF reduces the body weight and improves blood lipid profile, such as increasing high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and decreasing total cholesterol, triglycerides, and low- and very low-density lipoprotein levels. IF also decreases culturable aerobic bacterial count and increased fungal count. It was also found that the gut metagenome is altered considerably after IF. The human fecal bacterial diversity exhibited significant changes in decreased overall bacterial population, increased bacterial diversity (alpha diversity), and promoted evenness within the bacterial population at the species level. Anti-inflammatory bacteria Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium were favorably increased, while pathogenic bacteria were decreased.ConclusionCollectively, these results indicated that IF could improve lipid profile and body weight in humans, and the potential mechanisms might be via regulating gut microbiota.Significance and impact of the studyWe demonstrated for the first time that IF improved body weight and blood lipid profile, indicating that IF could mitigate gut microbiota in humans.

Isolation and Screening of Biosurfactant-producing Bacteria from Hydrocarbon-contaminated Soil in Kano Metropolis, Nigeria

Biosurfactants are surface-active biomolecules produced by microorganisms that have different applications in solving many environmental problems. This study was carried out to screen biosurfactant-producing bacteria isolated from hydrocarbon-contaminated soil of Kano Metropolis, Kano State- Nigeria. Soil samples were collected and processed. Biosurfactant-producing bacteria were enumerated, isolated and characterized using cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics. Blood haemolysis, oil drop collapse and oil displacement tests were employed for the screening of the bacterial isolates for the potential to produce biosurfactant. The viable aerobic heterotrophic bacterial count of the samples ranges from 1.0 to 8.4×106 cfu/g. Eight bacterial genera were biochemically identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacter cloacae, Pantoea agglomerans, Pseudomonas sp., Bacillus subtilis, Enterobacter alvei, Bacillus sp. and Klebsiella sp. Bacillus subtilis had the highest frequency of occurrence of 5(27%) while Bacillus sp. and Enterobacter alvei have the least occurrences of 1(6%) each. The eight identified bacterial isolates were all positive for the haemolysis test, drop collapse and oil displacement test.

Standardization of the Leaves of Ajuga remota Benth

Herbal medicines are extensively utilized across the world. In Ethiopia, people use Ajuga remota Benth to treat high blood pressure, hyperlipidaemia, diabetes, malaria, fever, ascariasis, stomach pain, diarrhoea, evil eye, and retained placenta. However, work has not been done on standardizing the herb. Thus, the aim of this study was to standardize the leaves of A. remota. Fresh leaves, powdered leaves, 80% methanol, chloroform, and methanol extracts of leaves of A. remota were evaluated using macroscopic and microscopic characterization, fluorescence analysis, physicochemical characterization, phytochemical analysis and residual analysis. Macroscopically, fresh leaves of A. remota were 17 - 62 mm (length) × 7.5 - 23 mm (width); 1 - 2 mm thick and dark sea green coloured, soft, fibrous, had a very bitter taste and a fruity odour. Microscopic characterization showed turgid guard cells, anisocytic stomata, epidermal cells (stratum spinosum), parenchymatous (aerenchyma) cells, pointed trichomes, spiral tracheids, and xylem fibre in powdered leaves of A. remota. The powder of the plant gave characteristic colours in fluorescence analysis under visible and 366 nm UV light. The powder was also studied for swelling index (2.392), foaming index (100), bitterness value (8400), extractive value (aqueous: 34.33% and methanol: 21.16%), moisture content (6.43%), total ash value (27.10%), water-soluble ash (11.43%), acid-insoluble ash (7.38%), tannin content (0.016%), and powder fineness (moderately fine). TLC, LC-MS, GC-MS, and FT-IR fingerprinting were produced. Ajugarin I, dodecyl acrylate, and hexacosane were identified as analytical marker compounds. In the residual analysis of the leaves of A. remota, soil took the highest percent (0.83%) among foreign matters. Heavy metals (Cd, Co, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Fe, and Mn) and aerobic bacterial count, mould, yeast, coliform, Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Shigella species were quantified. 228Ac (7 ± 1.8 Bq kg-1) and 40K (530 ± 34 Bq kg-1) radionuclides with a low dose were detected. The findings provide the standards for identification and authentication of the plant.

Impact of Oral Probiotics in Amelioration of Immunological and Inflammatory Responses on Experimentally Induced Acute Diverticulitis

Acute diverticulitis is inflammation of a colon diverticulum; it represents a major cause of morbidity and mortality. The alteration of gut microbiota contributes to the promotion of inflammation and the development of acute diverticulitis disease. Probiotics can modify the gut microbiota, so they are considered a promising option for managing diverticulitis disease. This study aimed to investigate the potential protective effect of probiotics, alone or in combination with amoxicillin, on the experimentally induced model of acute diverticulitis disease. Forty-two rats were divided into seven groups as follows: control group: received water and food only; DSS group: received 3% dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) daily for 7 days; LPS group: injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) enema at the dose of (4 mg/kg); probiotics group: treated with probiotics (Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium lactis) each of which (4 × 108 CFU suspended in 2 ml distilled water) orally for 7 days; DSS/LPS group: received DSS and LPS; DSS/LPS treated with probiotics group; DSS/LPS treated with probiotics and amoxicillin group. The results revealed that both treatments (probiotics and probiotics-amoxicillin) attenuated DSS/LPS-induced diverticulitis, by restoring the colonic antioxidant status, ameliorating inflammation (significantly reduced TNF-α, interleukins, interferon-γ, myeloperoxidase activity, and C-reactive protein), decreasing apoptosis (through downregulating caspase-3), and reduction of the colon aerobic bacterial count. These probiotic strains were effective in preventing the development of the experimentally induced acute diverticulitis through the anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects and have affected gut microbiota, so they can be considered a potential option in treating acute diverticulitis disease.

Gelatin/agar-based multifunctional film integrated with copper-doped zinc oxide nanoparticles and clove essential oil Pickering emulsion for enhancing the shelf life of pork meat

This work reports the fabrication of copper-modified zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO@Cu) added gelatin/agar-based multifunctional films loaded with clove essential oil Pickering emulsion (PEC). The ZnO@Cu particles were prepared using a simple precipitation method, and their successful synthesis was verified by X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) analysis. The clove oil Pickering emulsion was developed using nanocellulose as a solid base. The addition of nanofillers (ZnO@Cu and PEC) improved the films’ physical performance. The films’ UV-shielding property was ∼ 99% enhanced without a significant decrease in their transparency, and the incorporation of fillers also enhanced their mechanical properties. The gelatin/agar films also showed strong antimicrobial activity on ZnO@Cu and PEC addition, where a 100% eradication of L. monocytogenes and ∼ 50% decrease in the E. coli population was detected. Further, the antioxidant activity of the functional films was twice the original value obtained for neat films due to the presence of PEC. The developed multifunctional film was applied to wrap the pork belly meat before vacuum packaging, which helped significantly reduce its total aerobic bacterial count and lipid oxidation. The multifunctional film could successfully improve the shelf life of wrapped meat.

Applying Cold Atmospheric Plasma to Preserve the Postharvest Qualities of Winter Jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. Dongzao) During Cold Storage.

Winter jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill. cv. Dongzao) is a very popular horticultural fruit worldwide, which contains a high number of bioactive compounds. Nevertheless, jujube is perishable by microbial contamination and has a short shelf life under non-controlled conditions. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) presents a great potential for food sterilization, maintain postharvest quality, and prolonged storage time. Herein, this study investigated the potential effect of CAP with different exposure times (0, 5, 10, and 20 min) on the physicochemical and biochemical changes in jujube during 15-day storage at 4°C and 90% relative humidity (RH). The results showed that CAP treatment could obviously delay ripening, but displayed no effects on the speed of weight loss and moisture content. Meanwhile, the total native aerobic bacterial count in each jujube group was restrained during whole storage. However, CAP treatment showed a time-dependent manner to improve gene expression (PAL, 4CL, DFR, ANS, LAR, and ANR) related to phenolic biosynthesis. As compared to other groups, 20-min CAP treatment can keep or increase total phenolic content (TPC), maintain antioxidant activity, and reduce oxidative damage. Furthermore, the hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in jujube during middle storage were visibly reduced by 20-min CAP treatment. All in all, our findings concluded that appropriate CAP exposure time can be a promising candidate for the postharvest preservation of jujube.

Longitudinal Assessment of Contamination Patterns on Workstations on Wheels (WOWs)

Background Representations of contamination on portable medical equipment inform strategies to prevent transmission and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). While periodic disinfection of equipment is required in most hospitals, the complexity of demands on staff may limit their ability to adequately disinfect multiple surfaces and touch points on a piece of equipment. The purpose of this study was to determine if current disinfection practices were effectively managing bioburden on WOWs on our hospital wards. Methods Samples were collected using press plate for four weeks from 10 WOWs on three medical-surgical units in our hospital. The sampling scheme limited the ability of staff to anticipate sampling and ensured multiple surfaces on each WOW were consistently sampled. Aerobic bacterial colony counts were calculated after 24 hours of incubation. Bayesian multilevel models estimated the mean bioburden and compared bioburden from different locations on WOWs. Results Out of the 452 samples, the estimated mean colony count (95% credible interval) was 29.2 (16.1-51.1). The incident risk-ratio comparing the handle to the other surfaces on the WOWs were 0.43 (0.32-0.55) for the keyboard, 0.29 (0.22-0.38) for the tray, and 0.22 (0.16-0.29) for the mouse. Conclusions The handle used for moving the WOW around, had greater bioburden compared to the keyboard, tray, or the mouse. Difference in the bioburden may reflect number of touches and lack of hand hygiene when moving equipment. The lower bioburden on keyboards and mouses may conversely reflect greater attention to hand hygiene or may be an artifact of sampling (less contact with press plates). The correlation of bioburden to HAI transmission was not studied here so the significance of bioburden alone in the absence of HAI monitoring is uncertain. Representations of contamination on portable medical equipment inform strategies to prevent transmission and healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). While periodic disinfection of equipment is required in most hospitals, the complexity of demands on staff may limit their ability to adequately disinfect multiple surfaces and touch points on a piece of equipment. The purpose of this study was to determine if current disinfection practices were effectively managing bioburden on WOWs on our hospital wards. Samples were collected using press plate for four weeks from 10 WOWs on three medical-surgical units in our hospital. The sampling scheme limited the ability of staff to anticipate sampling and ensured multiple surfaces on each WOW were consistently sampled. Aerobic bacterial colony counts were calculated after 24 hours of incubation. Bayesian multilevel models estimated the mean bioburden and compared bioburden from different locations on WOWs. Out of the 452 samples, the estimated mean colony count (95% credible interval) was 29.2 (16.1-51.1). The incident risk-ratio comparing the handle to the other surfaces on the WOWs were 0.43 (0.32-0.55) for the keyboard, 0.29 (0.22-0.38) for the tray, and 0.22 (0.16-0.29) for the mouse. The handle used for moving the WOW around, had greater bioburden compared to the keyboard, tray, or the mouse. Difference in the bioburden may reflect number of touches and lack of hand hygiene when moving equipment. The lower bioburden on keyboards and mouses may conversely reflect greater attention to hand hygiene or may be an artifact of sampling (less contact with press plates). The correlation of bioburden to HAI transmission was not studied here so the significance of bioburden alone in the absence of HAI monitoring is uncertain.

Instrument tables equipped with local unidirectional airflow units reduce bacterial contamination during orthopedic implant surgery in an operating room with a displacement ventilation system

SummaryBackgroundAirborne bacteria present in the operating room may be a cause of surgical site infection, either contaminating the surgical wound directly, or indirectly via e.g. surgical instruments. The aim of this study was to evaluate if instrument and assistant tables equipped with local unidirectional airflow reduce bacterial contamination of the instrument area to ultra clean levels, during orthopedic implant surgery in an operating room with displacement ventilation.MethodsLocal airflow units of instrument and assistant tables were either active or inactive. Colony forming units were sampled intraoperatively from the air above the instruments and from instrument dummies. A minimum of three air samples and two-three samples from instrument dummies were taken during each surgery. Samples were incubated on agar for total aerobic bacterial count. The mean air and instrument contamination during each surgery was calculated and used to analyze the difference in contamination depending on use of local airflow or not. All procedures were performed in the same OR.Results188 air and 124 instrument samples were collected during 48 orthopedic implant procedures. Analysis showed that local unidirectional airflow above the surgical instruments significantly reduced the bacterial count in the air above assistant table (P<0.001) and instrument table (P=0.002), as well as on the instrument dummies from the assistant table (P=0.001).ConclusionsInstrumentation tables equipped with local unidirectional airflow protect the surgical instruments from bacterial contamination during orthopedic implant surgery and may therefore reduce the risk of indirect wound contamination.

Microbial Profile and Safety of Chicken Eggs from a Poultry Farm and Small-Scale Vendors in Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia

A freshly laid hen’s egg is devoid of microorganism, but soon after oviposition, it is contaminated by various spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms. The aim of this study was to assess the microbial profile and safety of chicken eggs in Hawassa City. A total of 60 egg samples were collected from Hawassa University Poultry Farm (HUPF) and small-scale vendors in Hawassa. The samples were analyzed for aerobic mesophilic bacterial count (AMBC), Staphylococcal count (SC), Enterobacteriaceae count (EC), total coliform count (TCC), fecal coliform count (FCC), and yeast and mold count (YMC). Moreover, the dominant mesophilic aerobic bacterial genera and common bacterial pathogens were identified by phenotypic methods. Accordingly, the mean aerobic mesophilic bacterial load of the shell surface rinsate of the egg samples ranged from 1.22 log10 CFU/ml to 9.7 log10 CFU/ml, while that of the internal contents ranged from 1.52 log CFU/ml to 9.36 log CFU/ml. The microbial load values of the egg contents were beyond the international recommended acceptable limits and suggested incipient spoilage. The mesophilic aerobic bacterial genera of the shell and internal contents of the egg samples were similarly dominated by Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, and Staphylococcus. The incidence of E. coli in shell rinsate and egg content was 10% (6 of 60) and 1.67% (1 of 60), respectively. Salmonellae were detected in shell rinsate of six egg samples (10%) and in the contents of eight samples (13.33%), all from small-scale vendors. These findings call for vigilant exercise of good agricultural and hygienic practices by primary producers and retailers.

Exploiting Egyptian dates waste extract as a preservative to improve the quality and safety of chilled chickens

Egypt is one of the richest countries in the world producing Phoenix dactylifera fruit. Phoenix dactylifera fruit wastes are not yet extensively utilized in the industry. Chicken safety and quality are prerequisites for current meat production and a basic requirement for consumers. Therefore, this study was carried out to evaluate the effect of 2% date seed extract on the safety and quality of the chicken meat marketed in Port-Saied markets, Egypt using chemical and bacteriological parameters. A total of forty chicken carcasses were equally divided into two groups. The first group was treated by dipping the carcasses in 2% date seeds extract for 15 mins, while the second group was kept as a control. Chicken samples were evaluated after one hour of treatment, as on the 3 rd, 6th, and 9th days of storage at 3±1°C. The obtained results revealed that pH, total volatile nitrogen (mg/100 g), and Thiobarbituric Acid reactive substances (mg-MDA/kg) values of treated samples were 6.4, 13.6 and 0.303 respectively on the 9th day of chilled storage. The treatment of chicken samples with 2% date seeds extract showed significantly (p&lt;0.05) lower total volatile nitrogen and Thiobarbituric Acid reactive substances values, as compared with control ones due to their content of antioxidants and phenolic compounds. Additionally, treatment with 2% date seed extracts significantly reduced the aerobic bacterial counts and extended the shelf-life of stored chicken meat to the 9 th day of storage. Furthermore, using 2% date seed extract effectively improved the safety of the chicken meat as Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. were not detected in treated samples. It could be concluded from this study that additional studies are recommended to investigate the nature of the preservative materials in dates seeds extract to expand its use on an industrial scale to ensure the safety and quality of chilled chicken meat.

A Study of Microbial Contamination in Sanjivani Vati, A Cow Urine Prepared Drug

Gomutra (Cow urine) has been used in various diseases as a medicine since long. It is recommended alone or in combination with other herbal drugs. Sanjivani vati is a popular Ayurvedic drug described in various classical and official text of Ayurveda and it is a very good example of that combination. It has equal parts of Vidanga, Sunthi, Pippali, Haritaki, Amalaki, Vibhitaki, Vaca, Guduchi, Bhallataka and Vatsanabha. Gomutra (Cow urine) is an ingredient that is used to levigate the powder of all herbal drugs and helps in making pills. Microbial contamination is defined as deterioration of pharmaceutical products by the microbes. In the pharmaceutics, various factors may be as a source of microbes. Preparation of drug is a long process and occurring in open environment. A big number of machine and man power are involved in this production. All these factors including ingredients of drug may contribute the deterioration of the drugs due to contamination of microbes. Even though fresh Cow urine is sterile, it may be prone to contamination and it may produce microbial load during processing of various formulations. Microbial growth may develop in the Sanjivani Vati that encompasses cow urine as an ingredient. The primary objective of this study was to determine microbial load. Sanjivani Vati was made in the institute pharmacy and evaluated for microbial load through outsource lab. Another market sample of Sanjivani Vati of a pharmacy was also evaluated to compare the results. Quantitative and qualitative assessment of microbial loads in Sanjivani Vati was assessed. The following strains of microbes E. Coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Fungus, and Total viable aerobic bacterial count were evaluated. Both the sample of Sanjivani Vati has shown insignificant load of selected microbes.

Microbial contamination of selected nonsterile pharmaceuticals in OPD pharmacy of a teaching hospital in Sri Lanka

A pharmaceutical product must be effective, safe and should be of good quality to assure their sustainability in the competitive pharmaceutical industry. The quality of the pharmaceutical products can be influenced by the presence of microorganisms (MO). In addition to sterile preparation contamination of non-sterile pharmaceuticals (NSP) should be monitored according to British Pharmacopeia (BP) microbial limits for the preparations. The objective of this study was to investigate the contamination of MOs of NSPs. Total 05 drug samples out of bulk opened containers were collected from OPD unit of a teaching hospital, Sri Lanka. The total aerobic bacterial count and fungal contamination was tested by surface spread plate method and checked with the specified limits in BP. The contaminated microorganisms were identified using microbial identification methods. According to the results 1/5 (20%) of the tested samples were contaminated with microorganisms and 4/5 (80%) of the samples were free from contamination. The identified microorganisms were Aspergillus species, gram negative Spore forming Bacilli and Staphylococcus aureus.

The Changes in GABA, GAD and DAO Activities, and Microbial Safety of Soaking- and High Voltage Electric Field-Treated Adzuki Bean Sprouts

The level of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in nongerminated adzuki bean seeds is low, but it increases substantially during germination and sprouting. In this study, three seed treatments, including soaking (S), high voltage electric field (HVEF), and soaking plus HVEF (SHVEF), were used to examine their effects on sprout growth, sprout GABA content, sprout glutamate decarboxylase (GAD), and diamine oxidase (DAO) activities and microbial loads on 6-day-old adzuki bean sprouts. All the treatments enhanced sprout growth, increased sprout’s GABA, and increased sprouts’ GAD and DAO activities. The examined seed treatments also significantly reduced the microbial loads of the produced 6-day-old adzuki bean sprouts. The most effective treatment that improved the morphological and biochemical traits and reduced microbial loads on produced sprouts was the SHVEF treatment. SHVEF treatment also achieved a 5-log reduction in the microbial loads of total aerobic bacterial counts, total coliform counts, and total mold counts on the produced adzuki bean sprouts. Therefore, SHVEF is effective for increasing adzuki bean sprout production. It can also be used to improve nutritional quality and provide an intervention technique against microbial contamination on produced sprouts.