Food Quality Magazine
ISSUE 02 | AUTUMN 2014
are urged to read infant formula
labels carefully and store product at
the appropriate listed temperature.
When reconstituting powdered
products, it is important to always
use liquid heated to 158˚F -194˚F.
Also, it is recommended to sterilize
infant formula bottles as Cronobacter
can survive and be viable for years in
a dried state.
As mentioned in the beginning of the
article, it is interesting to note that
infections from this organism are
not limited to neonates. According
to the recent CDC study, published
in the September 2014 issue of
Emerging Infectious Diseases,
Cronobacter infections may be more
prevalent than originally thought
in adolescent, adult, and elderly
populations. The study, for the first
time, analyzed rates of Cronobacter
infections in groups other than
infants. It estimates around 3.9 out
of every 100,000 people older than
65 are infected on a yearly basis,
more than double the estimated
infection rate in infants.
Out of 544 Cronobacter cases
analyzed over a six-year period
(2003-2009), the study found that
37% of cases involved persons over
70 years of age, while infants (<1
year of age) only accounted for 4%
of cases. While cases are less severe
in adolescents, adults, and the
elderly, infections of the blood and
urinary tract have been associated
with the pathogen. Infections in
immunocompromised
adults
can lead to further complications
and illness such as osteomyelitis,
pneumonia, wound infections, and
splenic abscesses. On a positive
note, there have been no confirmed
reports of Cronobacter infections
spreading from person-to-person
contact.
When it comes to the increased
number of infections in adolescents
and adults, the vehicle for
transmission is still unknown and
top priority on the CDC’s research
agenda. To increase understanding
of the public health effects of
Cronobacter, routine surveillance
and special studies will be performed
to identify reservoirs of infection in
order to create effective prevention
and control measures.
References:
Andrews, James. „Cronobacter
Infections May Be More Common
Than Previously Thought.” Food
Safety News. Marler Clark, 20
August 2014. Web.
Chen, Yi, Keith Lampel, and
Thomas Hammack. „Bacteriological
Analytical Manual Chapter 29
Cronobacter.“ U.S. Food and Drug
Administration. 29 July 2014. Web.
09 Oct. 2014. .
„Cronobacter Expanded Information.”
Centers For Disease Control and
Prevention. CDC, 12 February
2014. Web. .
Patrick, Mary E. et al. „Incidence
of Cronobacter Spp. Infections,
United States, 2003-2009.“ Emerging
Infectious Diseases 20.9 (2014):
1520-1523. Web. .
Seth Keller is the Associate Product
Manager, Silliker Inc.
25