Bacteriology: a review of recent articles

The objective of this paper is to provide recent/current information on technological developments in the laboratory diagnosis of bacterial infections and their advantages of the introduction in the CMC's(AU)

Antibiotic resistance patterns of gram negative aerobic bacilli - a Caribbean collaborative study

The World Health Organization (WHO) has been taking active interest in the problem of antibiotic resistance and its impact on global health in developed and developing countries. A programme was initiated by CAREC to systematically study the antibiotic reistance pattern of bacteria in the Caribbean by a Standardised protocol to obtain information for the formulation of guidelines for appropriate use of antibiotics (AU)

Diarrhoeal diseases surveillance in Trinidad and Tobago

Between July 28th and December 28th, 1991, 2,935 cases of diarrhoeal illness were reported to the National Surveillance Unit of the Ministry of Health, in response to the intensified surveillance activities of the Cholera Preparedness Programme. The cases notified included 1,656 children less than five years of age (56.4 percent) and 1,279 persons over age five. The average number of reported cases per week was 133 with a range of 62-202 cases. A review of certain laboratory indicators was recently undertaken in order to assess the ease with which cholera would spread locally if introduced into Trinidad and Tobago. This analysis is based on data produced by the Trinidad Public Health Laboratory (AU)

Bacteriological aspects of a hatchery and a meat processing plant in Jamaica

In this thesis, the sanitation and bacteriological aspects of a hatchery and a meat processing plant were examined. The levels of bacterial contamination throughout the hatchery were determined. The microflora of each room of the hatchery and the effect of washing on them was examined by identification of 370 bacterial isolates before and after washing. The effectiveness of the quaternary ammonium sanitizer and other cleaning agents used for washing was examined. The microbiological quality of the hatchery's water supply was also investigated. The results indicate that washing and sanitizing did not affect the gram-negative bacteria although gram-positive bacteria were killed. Pseudomonas, Plesiomonas and Enterobacter therefore dominated the post-washing flora. The water supply of the hatchery was found to be contaminated. It is postulated that the high numbers of these bacteria may reduce the efficiency of the hatchery by causing high chick mortality and infertility due to bacterial contamination. Bacteriological conditions of a frankfurter processing operation in one of the meat processing plants were investigated. The sanitary state of the equipment, packages and workers' hands in the processing plant were examined. Bacterial levels of the meat at various stages of processing and the bacterial population in its environments were determined by identification of 350 bacterial isolates. The effect of processing on the bacterial count in frankfurters and the heat resistance of surviving bacteria after cooking were examined. The cooking/smoking operation of frankfurter production was shown to be ineffective because of poor process control. Sanitation at the plant was poor, resulting in an unsafe product which was contaminated with staphylococci and thermoduric, antibiotic-resistant enterococci. It is highly recommended that regular bacteriological checks on the sanitation programme and the finished product should be undertaken to ensure a safe and high quality product (AU)

Bacteriological aspects of chicken processed in Jamaica

Bacteriological aspects of chicken processed in Jamaica were studied. The effect of processing on the number of bacteria on chicken from the largest processing plant (Jamaican Broilers) was investigated with reference to international standards. Microbial numbers, temperature and total organic matter content of selected washing tanks were examined. The number of bacteria on the hands of the workers and the final temperature of the carcasses after packaging and before freezing were also determined. Bacterial counts on the Jamaica Broilers chickens were compared with those of chickens from a smaller processing plant. Bacterial numbers on chickens sampled at retail outlets were also investigated and found to differ significantly from those on chicken sampled at the processing plant. Microbial examination of the delivery trucks, and observation of the hygienic condition of the outlets were conducted. The question of whether the transport system or condition of the retail outlets was the major factor responsible for the increase, was discussed. A correlation was found between the level of hygiene of the outlets and the number of bacteria on retail chickens. The shelf life and dynamics of the microbial population of chicken during storage at 4§C was examined. Chicken purchased at a retail outlet was stored at 4§C and rinsed in 0.1 percent peptone every 48 hours. The number of bacteria per ml of rinse water was determined. A total of 50 to 100 organisms were isolated and purified from total count plates of each sample day. Preliminary identification was by the method of Shewan et al. (1960) with confirmation by further biochemical tests. Pseudomonas species were found to be the major group of spoilage bacteria. Pseudomonas isolates were classified into different biochemical groups which were shown to undergo changes in distribution during storage. They were also characterised by their intrinsic antibiotic resistance patterns. While all the isolates were found to be resistant to penicillin and ampicillin, only 28 percent displayed high resistance to one or more of six other antibiotics tested. This investigation of bacteriological conditions of chicken processed in Jamaica is a pioneer effort. Nevertheless, it has provided sufficient information for the compilation of recommendations which may help to improve the microbial quality of chickens, with consequent increase in the shelf life. This study may also be useful to other Caribbean islands in which the conditions of processing, transportation and retail handling of chickens are similar (AU)