title: Microbiological Findings in Ready-to-Eat and Precooked Food Distributed in Public Catering Halls in Cagliari Province, Italy.
abstract: During this research 159 samples of ready-to-eat and precooked food were examined for the detection ofSalmonellaspp.,Listeria monocytogenes,Escherichia coli, coagulase-positive staphylococci andEnterobacteriaceae, bacterial count. All samples were negative forSalmonellaspp. andListeria monocytogenes; although a low count of coagulase-positive staphylococci (no. 5 samples) andE. coli(no. 3) was found. We proceeded with the identification of the isolates on every sample with high, moderate and low-count ofEnterobacteriaceae, to better understand the microbial ecology. TheEnterobacteriaceaespecies most frequently detected werePantoeaspp. (29.62%),Enterobacter cloacae(20.37%) andSerratia liquefaciens(12.96%); other different species ofEnterobacteriaceaewere detected with a <10% presence. Since there are no legal regulations indicating tolerance or limit values or this kind of microorganisms related to the samples, it would be appropriate, in the presence of high count ofEnterobacteriaceaeor by type of ready-to-eat and precooked food, to proceed with the identification of every microorganism.
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna , Elmas (CA).
authors: Silvana
authors: S
authors: Brignardello
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna , Elmas (CA).
authors: Rosangela
authors: R
authors: Sabiu
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna , Sassari.
authors: Tiziana
authors: T
authors: Tedde
authors: Servizio Igiene degli Alimenti e della Nutrizione , ASL 8, Cagliari.
authors: Enrica
authors: E
authors: Cocco
authors: Servizio Igiene degli Alimenti e della Nutrizione , ASL 7, Carbonia (CI).
authors: Gabriella
authors: G
authors: Pitzalis
authors: Servizio Igiene degli Alimenti e della Nutrizione , ASL 6, Sanluri (VS), Italy.
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: Meli
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna , Elmas (CA).
authors: Maria Paola
authors: MP
authors: Cogoni
keywords: Enterobacteriaceae; Microbiological quality; Ready-to-eat