title: Incidence of Staphylococcus aureus and analysis of associated bacterial communities on food industry surfaces.
abstract: Biofilms are a common cause of food contamination with undesirable bacteria, such as pathogenic bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the major bacteria causing food-borne diseases in humans. A study designed to determine the presence of S. aureus on food contact surfaces in dairy, meat, and seafood environments and to identify coexisting microbiota has therefore been carried out. A total of 442 samples were collected, and the presence of S. aureus was confirmed in 6.1% of samples. Sixty-three S. aureus isolates were recovered and typed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Profiles were clustered into four groups which were related to specific food environments. All isolates harbored some potential virulence factors such as enterotoxin production genes, biofilm formation-associated genes, antibiotic resistance, or lysogeny. PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) fingerprints of bacterial communities coexisting with S. aureus revealed the presence of bacteria either involved in food spoilage or of concern for food safety in all food environments. Food industry surfaces could thus be a reservoir for S. aureus forming complex communities with undesirable bacteria in multispecies biofilms. Uneven microbiological conditions were found in each food sector, which indicates the need to improve hygienic conditions in food processing facilities, particularly the removal of bacterial biofilms, to enhance the safety of food products.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Productos Lácteos de Asturias (IPLA-CSIC), Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Susana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Delgado
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Sánchez
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: Marta López
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Cabo
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Juan J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Herrera
authors.forename: Pilar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: García
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D019649:Food Industry; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008242:Lysogeny; D058889:Molecular Typing; D019105:Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors