The Importance of Cronobacter sakazakii in Food Microbiology

Abstract: Cronobacter sakazakii causes various infections (i.e., pneumonia, conjuctivitis, appendicitis) in most of the age groups and it mostly causes meningitis, necrotic enterocolitis and bacteremia in newborns and children. In recent years there are increasing amount of researches for infant formulas in all of the world because of health problems depending on the consumption of infant formulas. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned the medical centers in USA about C. sakazakii infections for newborns that fed with infant formula. As a result of the international growing concern about infant formulas, Food and Agriculture Organizations and World Health Organization (FAO/WHO) have assumed a risk approach mission about microorganisms associated with infant formulas and they have categorized Cronobacter spp and Salmonella spp as a hygen quality. Additionally C. sakazakii has been isolated from various foods such as meat, vegetables, cheese, seed and spices. In addition to surviving for a long time in powdered infant formula, it is also important that powdered infant cereals, some vegetables and fruits support the growth of C. sakazakii. The main preventive precautions against foodborne infections caused by opportunistic pathogen C. sakazakii are to provide efficient heat treatment and to prevent possible contaminations from production environment that could occur after the heat treatment.