Resistance of Enterobacter sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.) to environmental stresses.
OBJECTIVE
To gain a better understanding of the survival and persistence of Enterobacter sakazakii in severe environments.


RESULTS
We evaluated the resistance of Ent. sakazakii to various environmental stresses, including heating, drying, water activity (a(w)), and pH. The resistance of Ent. sakazakii to heat varies widely among strains. Most tested strains of Ent. sakazakii exhibited unusual resistance to dry stress, which depends on drying media. Growth of most strains occurred within 24 h at 37 degrees C when the initial a(w) of the medium was adjusted to 0.94 with sucrose or sodium chloride. The minimum pH for growth within 24 h at 37 degrees C was 3.9 or 4.1 for most strains tested. Additionally, there did not appear to be any relationship between resistance to stresses and biofilm-forming ability in Ent. sakazakii planktonic cells.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that Ent. sakazakii is much more resistant than other Enterobacteriaceae to environmental stresses. Moreover, it is likely that Ent. sakazakii has cross-resistance to dry and thermal stresses.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings of this study will contribute to an improved understanding of the survival and behaviour of Ent. sakazakii, which will lead to improved strategies for preventing outbreaks of Ent. sakazakii infection.
Dancer
G I
GI
School of Food Science, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164-6376, USA.
Mah
J-H
JH
Rhee
M-S
MS
Hwang
I-G
IG
Kang
D-H
DH
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D044083:Cronobacter sakazakii / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D003890:Desiccation; D006358:Hot Temperature; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water
D014867:Water