23 September 2008

Microbiology specialist 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 what will soon be a series of three new media is HAL012 Harlequin™ CSIM (Harlequin™ Cronobacter sakazakii Isolation Medium). A chromogenic medium, this product 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 class C. sakazakii, alongside Salmonella, as a category “A” risk and recommend that effective plant hygiene management include 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 their 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 HAL012 Harlequin™ Cronobacter sakazakii Isolation Medium.