New Media for Cronobacter Sakazakii Isolation

Lab M is launching the first product in its new range of dehydrated culture media for the isolation of Cronobacter sakazakii. Formerly known as Enterobacter sakazakii, this largely environmental organism has been associated with serious infections in newborns fed on infant formula milk.

Lab M`s range will include both broth and chromogenic media, and is designed to meet the various testing regimes of different laboratories.

The first in a series of three new media is HAL012 Harlequinâ„¢ CSIM (Harlequinâ„¢ Cronobacter sakazakii Isolation Medium). This chromogenic medium uses the formulation currently recommended as part of the isolation protocol under ISO/TS 22964:2006(E) for C. sakazakii from milk, infant formula and other milk products.

Implicated in sepsis, meningitis and necrotising enterocolitis with a high death rate in newborns, the main source of C. sakazakii contamination appears to be the manufacturing environment. The Microbiological Risk Assessment (MRA) committee - a Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) initiative for the management of risk posed by food borne pathogens – now classes C. sakazakii, alongside Salmonella, as a category "A" risk and recommends that effective plant hygiene management includes testing for Enterobacteriaceae.

Chromogenic technology enables faster detection and improved sensitivity compared with classical culture media, reducing the need for sub-culture or confirmatory tests. Already well known for high quality chromogenic media for Salmonella, Listeria and E.coli detection, Lab M can reduce laboratory workloads even further by providing culture plates ready prepared with the Harlequinâ„¢ Cronobacter sakazakii Isolation Medium.