In the Depths of Wash Water: Isolation of Opportunistic Bacteria from Fresh-Cut Processing Plants

Abstract

The fruit and vegetable industry in post-harvest processing plants is characterized by a substantial consumption of water resources. Wash waters may serve as an environment for the periodic or permanent habitation of microorganisms, particularly if biofilm forms on the inner walls of tanks and flushing channels. Despite the implementation of integrated food safety monitoring systems in numerous countries, foodborne pathogens remain a global public health and food safety concern, particularly for minimally processed food products such as vegetables and fruits. This necessitates the importance of studies that will explore wash water quality to safeguard minimally processed food against foodborne pathogen contamination. Therefore, the current study aimed to isolate and identify bacteria contaminating the wash waters of four fresh-cut processing plants (Poland) and to evaluate the phenotypic antibiotic resistance profiles in selected species. Bacteria were isolated using membrane filtration and identified through mass spectrometry, followed by antibiotic susceptibility testing according to EUCAST guidelines. The results revealed that the level of contamination with total aerobic bacteria in the water ranged from 1.30 × 106 cfu/mL to 2.54 × 108 cfu/mL. Among the isolates, opportunistic pathogens including Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella oxytoca, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Proteus vulgaris strains were identified. An especially noteworthy result was the identification of cefepime-resistant K. oxytoca isolates. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring the microbial microflora in minimally processed foods and the need for appropriate sanitary control procedures to minimize the risk of pathogen contamination, ensuring that products remain safe and of high quality throughout the supply chain.