Isolation of C. Sakazakii and Concentration of Enterobacteriaceae in Kitchen’s Neonatal Intensive Care (NIC)

International Commission for Microbiological Specification for Foods ranked Cronobacter sakazakii as "Severe hazard for restricted populations, life threatening or substantial chronic sequelae or long duration"(ICMSF, 2002). Among infants at greatest risk are infants less than 2 months of age. This research aimed to get more insight the habitat, to control the biological risk of the hospital kitchen`s environment at the University Hospital of Obstetrics and Gynaecology "Queen Geraldin", where the powered infant formula is prepared. Efficiency of risk control must be verified through the application of microbiological monitoring plan that provides application of microbiological environmental criteria, the proper cleaning of equipments used in production lines, control of the final product during their shelf live, collection of samples from the raw material, surfaces and environment as well as to take measures during preparation and reconstitution of powered infant formulae. This study was performed to determine the frequency distribution of C. sakazakii and the concentration of Enterobacteriaceae in different sampling areas of the kitchen. In order to identify potential environmental reservoirs we have analyzed 60 samples from the kitchen areas as well as personel hands. At the end we have quantified Enterobacteriaceae and isolate C. sakazakii from the total of 60 samples. We have detected the presence of C. sakazakii in two environmental samples (3.3%) of the cases. Care should be taken while preparing storing and handling PIF and rules should be respected to meet the highest level of microbiological safety in hospital/nursery as defined in MRA Series 10 (FAO/WHO 2004). Keywords: PIF; Cronobacter sakazakii; food safety, Enterobacteriaceae.