Isolation and characterization of Cronobacter spp. from indigenous infant flours sold in public health care centres within Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire

• Published in: Food control Vol. 62; pp. 224 - 230
• Main Authors: Yao, Kouadio, N'guessan, Kouadio F., Zinzendorf, Nanga Y., Kouassi, Kra A., Kouassi, Kouassi C., Loukou, Yao G., Kouamé, Patrice L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2016
• Subjects: Antimicrobial susceptibility; Cronobacter spp; Enterobacteriaceae; Identification; Indigenous infant flour; Prevalence; Cronobacter spp; Antimicrobial susceptibility; Identification; Indigenous infant flour; Prevalence; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0956-7135; 1873-7129
• DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.10.041

The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Cronobacter spp. in indigenous infant flours sold in public health care centres within Abidjan (Côte d'Ivoire) and to assess their antimicrobial susceptibility. A total of 133 samples of cereal-based indigenous flours were collected from randomly selected public health care centres within Abidjan and subjected to Cronobacter spp. isolation and identification by using biochemical tests, API 20E system and duplex PCR detection. Subsequently, the antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed for confirmed isolates. Our results showed that the samples contained Cronobacter spp. in addition to 18 other Enterobacteriaceae species among with Enterobacter cloacae (21.84% of total isolates) and Pantoea spp. (14.08%) were the most frequently isolated species. Ninety samples (67.7%) were contaminated by Enterobacteriaceae and 16 samples (12.0%) by Cronobacter spp. Gentamycin, colistine, tobramycin, ticarcillin–clavunate and trimethoprim–sulphamethoxazole remained the most potent antimicrobial agents against Cronobacter spp. while resistance occurred most often to nalidixic acid (87.5%), aztreonam (75.0%), amoxicillin–clavunate (68.7%), ampicillin (62.5%) and cefotaxime (62.5%). Twelve resistant phenotypes were defined among Cronobacter spp. isolates and the most common phenotype (25% of isolates) was amoxicillin–clavunate/cefotaxime/aztreonam/tetracycline/nalidixic acid resistant. Furthermore, all the strains tested were resistant to at least four antibiotics.
•Cronobacter spp. percentage occurrence in indigenous infant flours was 12%.•The samples contained 18 Enterobacteriaceae species other than Cronobacter spp.•Sorghum and millet flours were the most prevalent for Cronobacter spp.•Gentamycin, colistine and tobramycin were the most potent antimicrobial agents.•Resistance to six or more antimicrobials occurred in 50% of isolates.