Correction to: Intrinsic and inducible resistance to hydrogen peroxide in Bifidobacterium species.

In the published article, the co-author Abdelmoneim Abdalla's affiliation has been published incompletely. The additional affiliation is given below.

Risk prediction model for knee pain in the Nottingham community: a Bayesian modelling approach.

BACKGROUND: Twenty-five percent of the British population over the age of 50 years experiences knee pain. Knee pain can limit physical ability and cause distress and bears significant socioeconomic costs. The objectives of this study were to develop and validate the first risk prediction model for incident knee pain in the Nottingham community and validate this internally within the Nottingham cohort and externally within the Osteoarthritis Initiative (OAI) cohort. METHODS: A total of 1822 participants from the Nottingham community who were at risk for knee pain were followed for 12 years. Of this cohort, two-thirds (n = 1203) were used to develop the risk prediction model, and one-third (n = 619) were used to validate the model. Incident knee pain was defined as pain on most days for at least 1 month in the past 12 months. Predictors were age, sex, body mass index, pain elsewhere, prior knee injury and knee alignment. A Bayesian logistic regression model was used to determine the probability of an OR >1. The Hosmer-Lemeshow χ2 statistic (HLS) was used for calibration, and ROC curve analysis was used for discrimination. The OAI cohort from the United States was also used to examine the performance of the model. RESULTS: A risk prediction model for knee pain incidence was developed using a Bayesian approach. The model had good calibration, with an HLS of 7.17 (p = 0.52) and moderate discriminative ability (ROC 0.70) in the community. Individual scenarios are given using the model. However, the model had poor calibration (HLS 5866.28, p < 0.01) and poor discriminative ability (ROC 0.54) in the OAI cohort. CONCLUSIONS: To our knowledge, this is the first risk prediction model for knee pain, regardless of underlying structural changes of knee osteoarthritis, in the community using a Bayesian modelling approach. The model appears to work well in a community-based population but not in individuals with a higher risk for knee osteoarthritis, and it may provide a convenient tool for use in primary care to predict the risk of knee pain in the general population.

Risk of contralateral breast cancer in BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers: a 30-year semi-prospective analysis.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers have an increased risk of contralateral breast cancer after primary breast cancer. Risk reduction strategies are discussed after assessment of risk factors for developing contralateral breast cancer. We assessed potential risk factors that could be of use in clinical practice, including the novel use of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) testing. 506 BRCA1 and 505 BRCA2 mutation carriers with a diagnosis of breast cancer were observed for up to 30 years. The risk of a contralateral breast cancer is approximately 2-3% per year, remaining constant for at least 20 years. This was similar in both BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers. Initial breast cancer before age 40-years was a significant risk factor, which was more pronounced in BRCA1 patients. The effect of risk-reducing oophorectomy on contralateral breast cancer risk may be overestimated because of bias. No significant association was found between overall breast cancer risk SNP score and contralateral breast cancer development. Young mutation carriers, particularly those with BRCA1 mutations, who develop breast cancer have a significantly higher risk of developing contralateral breast cancer, remaining constant for over 20 years. Contralateral risk-reducing mastectomy should be considered in this group, in particular as there is a survival benefit. Caution is advised when counselling women considering risk-reducing oophorectomy as, after accounting for statistical bias, the associated risk reduction was found to be non-significant, and potentially smaller than has been previously reported. SNP testing did not add any further discriminatory information when assessing contralateral breast cancer risk.

Growth of strains of the major non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroups is not different from growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in neutral broth (pH 7.4) and acidified broth (pH 5.6) at 10°C.

Understanding the survival and growth of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains under cold temperatures may be important for protecting public health. The aim of this study was to compare the growth of three strains of each of the major non-O157 STEC serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) with the growth of six O157:H7 STEC strains in broth at 10°C. Brain heart infusion broth (BHIB; pH 7.4) was inoculated with a single strain of stationary-phase STEC culture to produce a starting inoculum of ∼10(6) CFU/ml and stored at 10°C for up to 96 h (three trials per strain). Populations over time were fitted to the Baranyi and Roberts model, and lag-phase duration (LPD) and growth rate were calculated for each strain per trial. Average LPD ranged from 9.2 to 32.8 h for non-O157 STEC and from 10.5 to 17.2 h for O157 STEC. One strain of O26 STEC had a significantly longer LPD (P < 0.05) than did the other strains (32.8 h); otherwise, no significant differences were noted (P > 0.05). Growth rate ranged from 0.031 to 0.060 log CFU/ml/h for non-O157 STEC strains and from 0.034 to 0.046 log CFU/ml/h for O157 STEC strains. No significant difference in growth rate was noted among strains in BHIB at pH 7.4 and 10°C. In subsequent trials, growth of a single strain of each of the non-O157 STEC serogroups was compared with growth of four acid-tolerant O157 STEC strains in BHIB acidified to pH 5.6 with lactic acid. Acidification generally increased LPD and decreased the growth rate for strains, although the effect was variable and not significant. These findings suggest that growth patterns for strains of non-O157 STEC are similar to those for strains of O157 STEC in neutral and pH 5.6 BHIB at 10°C. Further research is needed to determine whether strains behave similarly in meat systems.

The influence of carbon monoxide bolus on the measurement of total haemoglobin mass using the optimized CO-rebreathing method.

The optimized carbon monoxide (CO) rebreathing method (oCOR-method) is routinely used to measure total haemoglobin mass (tHbmass). The tHbmass measure is subject to a test-retest typical error of ~2%, mostly from the precision of carboxyhaemoglobin (HbCO) measurement. We hypothesized that tHbmass would be robust to differences in the bolus of CO administered during the oCOR-method. Twelve participants (ten males and two females; age 27 ± 6 yr, height 177 ± 11 cm and mass 73.9 ± 12.1 kg) completed the oCOR-method on four occasions. Different bolus of CO were administered (LOW: 0.6 ml kg(-1); MED1: 1.0 ml kg(-1) and HIGH: 1.4 ml kg(-1)); to determine the reliability of MED1, a second trial was conducted (MED2). tHbmass was found to be significantly less from the HIGH CO bolus (776 ± 148 g) when compared to the LOW CO (791 ± 149 g) or MED1 CO (788 ± 149 g) trials. MED2 CO was 785 ± 150 g. The measurement of tHbmass is repeatable to within 0.8%, but a small and notable difference was seen when using a HIGH CO bolus (1.4 to 1.9% less), potentially due to differences in CO uptake kinetics. Previously, an improved precision of the oCOR-method was thought to require a higher bolus of CO (i.e. larger Δ%HbCO), as commercial hemoximeters only estimate %HbCO levels to a single decimal place (usually ± 0.1%). With the new hemoximeter used in this study, a bolus of 1.0 ml kg(-1) allows adequate precision with acceptable safety.

Community consultation in emergency neurotrauma research: results from a pre-protocol survey.

BACKGROUND: Uncertainty remains as to the role of decompressive craniectomy (DC) for primary evacuation of an acute subdural haematoma (ASDH). In 2011, a collaborative group of neurosurgeons, neuro-intensive care physicians and trial methodologists was formed in the UK with the aim of answering the following question: "What is the clinical- and cost-effectiveness of DC, in comparison to simple craniotomy for adult patients undergoing primary evacuation of an ASDH?" The proposed RESCUE-ASDH trial (Randomised Evaluation of Surgery with Craniectomy for patients Undergoing Evacuation of Acute Subdural Haematoma) is a multi-centre, pragmatic, parallel group randomised trial of DC versus simple craniotomy for adult head-injured patients with an ASDH. Clinical trials in the emergency setting face the problem that potential participants may be incapacitated and their next of kin initially unavailable. As a result, consent and enrolment of participants can often be difficult. METHOD: In the current study, we aimed to assess public opinion regarding participation in the RESCUE-ASDH trial and acceptability of surrogate consent by conducting a pre-protocol community consultation survey. RESULTS: One hundred and seventy-one subjects completed the survey. Eighty-four percent of participants responded positively when asked if they would participate in the proposed trial. Ninety-six percent and 91 % answered positively when asked if they found surrogate consent by their next of kin and an independent doctor acceptable, respectively. None of the characteristics of the study population were found to affect the decision to participate or the acceptability of surrogate consent by the next of kin. Being religious showed a trend towards higher acceptability of surrogate consent by a doctor. Conversely, an education to degree level and above showed a trend towards reduced acceptability of surrogate consent by a doctor. CONCLUSIONS: Our community consultation survey shows that the proposed trial is acceptable to the public. In addition, the results suggest high levels of acceptability of surrogate consent by next of kin or independent doctor amongst our community.

The spectrum of urological malignancy in Lynch syndrome.

Urological tumours are the third most frequent malignancy in Lynch syndrome after colonic and endometrial cancer. Upper urinary tract tumours are well recognised in Lynch syndrome, but the association with prostate and bladder cancer is controversial. We determined the incidence and cumulative and relative risks of prostate and bladder cancer in a cohort of Lynch syndrome families. Male Lynch syndrome mutation carriers and their genetically untested male first degree relatives (FDR) were identified from the Manchester Regional Lynch syndrome database (n = 821). Time to the development of urological cancer was identified for each urological site (renal pelvis, ureter, bladder and prostate). Cumulative and relative risks were calculated, with results classified by mutation carrier status and specific causative genetic mutations. Eight prostate cancers were identified, only one occurring before the age of 60. Analysis of person-years at risk of prostate cancer by Lynch syndrome mutation carrier status suggests a correlation between MSH2 mutation carriers and a tenfold increased risk of prostate cancer (RR 10.41; 95 % CI 2.80, 26.65). No such association was found with bladder cancer (RR 1.88; 95 % CI 0.21, 6.79). The association of upper urinary tract tumours with MSH2 and MLH1 mutations was confirmed. We have carried out the largest study of male Lynch syndrome mutation carriers to establish the risks of urological malignancy. A tenfold increased risk of prostate cancer is supported in MSH2 with mutation carriers having roughly double the risk of prostate cancer to FDRs. A trial of PSA testing in MSH2 carriers from 40 to 50 years may be justifiable.

Is multiple SNP testing in BRCA2 and BRCA1 female carriers ready for use in clinical practice? Results from a large Genetic Centre in the UK.

BRCA1 and BRCA2 are major breast cancer susceptibility genes. Nineteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at 18 loci have been associated with breast cancer. We aimed to determine whether these predict breast cancer incidence in women with BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations. BRCA1/2 mutation carriers identified through the Manchester genetics centre between 1996 and 2011 were included. Using published odds ratios (OR) and risk allele frequencies, we calculated an overall breast cancer risk SNP score (OBRS) for each woman. The relationship between OBRS and age at breast cancer onset was investigated using the Cox proportional hazards model, and predictive ability assessed using Harrell's C concordance statistic. In BRCA1 mutation carriers we found no association between OBRS and age at breast cancer onset: OR for the lowest risk quintile compared to the highest was 1.20 (95% CI 0.82-1.75, Harrell's C = 0.54), but in BRCA2 mutation carriers the association was significant (OR for the lowest risk quintile relative to the highest was 0.47 (95% CI 0.33-0.69, Harrell's C = 0.59). The 18 validated breast cancer SNPs differentiate breast cancer risks between women with BRCA2 mutations, but not BRCA1. It may now be appropriate to use these SNPs to help women with BRCA2 mutations make maximally informed decisions about management options.

Prevention of breast cancer in the context of a national breast screening programme.

Breast cancer is not only increasing in the west but also particularly rapidly in eastern countries where traditionally the incidence has been low. The rise in incidence is mainly related to changes in reproductive patterns and lifestyle. These trends could potentially be reversed by defining women at greatest risk and offering appropriate preventive measures. A model for this approach was the establishment of Family History Clinics (FHCs), which have resulted in improved survival in younger women at high risk. New predictive models of risk that include reproductive and lifestyle factors, mammographic density and measurement of risk-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) may give more precise information concerning risk and enable better targeting for mammographic screening programmes and of preventive measures. Endocrine prevention using anti-oestrogens and aromatase inhibitors is effective, and observational studies suggest lifestyle modification may also be effective. However, referral to FHCs is opportunistic and predominantly includes younger women. A better approach for identifying older women at risk may be to use national breast screening programmes. Here were described pilot studies to assess whether the routine assessment of breast cancer risk is feasible within a population-based screening programme, whether the feedback and advice on risk-reducing interventions would be welcomed and taken up, and to consider whether the screening interval should be modified according to breast cancer risk.

Uptake of risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy in women carrying a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation: evidence for lower uptake in women affected by breast cancer and older women.

BACKGROUND: Bilateral risk-reducing salpingo-oophorectomy (BRRSO) is the only effective way of reducing mortality from ovarian cancer. This study investigates uptake of BRRSO in 700 BRCA1/2 mutation carriers from Greater Manchester. METHODS: Dates of last follow-up and BRRSO were obtained, and the following variables were investigated: ovarian cancer risk/gene, age and breast cancer history. The date of the genetic mutation report was the initiation for Kaplan-Meier analysis. RESULTS: The uptake of BRRSO in BRCA1 mutation carriers was 54.5% (standard error 3.6%) at 5 years post testing compared with 45.5% (standard error 3.2%) in BRCA2 mutation carriers (P=0.045). The 40-59 years category showed the greatest uptake for BRRSO and uptake was significantly lower in the over 60 s (P<0.0001). Of the unaffected BRCA1 mutation carriers, 65% (standard error 5.1%) opted for surgery at 5 years post-testing compared with 41.1% (standard error 5.1%) in affected BRCA1 mutation carriers (P=0.045). CONCLUSION: The uptake of BRRSO is lower in women previously affected by breast cancer and in older women. As there is no efficient method for early detection of ovarian cancer, uptake should ideally be greater. Counselling should be offered to ensure BRCA1/2 mutation carriers make an informed decision about managing their ovarian cancer risk.

Comparison of bulk-tank standard plate count and somatic cell count for Wisconsin dairy farms in three size categories.

The objective of this study was to evaluate possible claims by advocates of small-scale dairy farming that milk from smaller Wisconsin farms is of higher quality than milk from larger Wisconsin farms. Reported bulk tank standard plate count (SPC) and somatic cell count (SCC) test results for Wisconsin dairy farms were obtained for February to December, 2008. Farms were sorted into 3 size categories using available size-tracking criteria: small (≤118 cows; 12,866 farms), large (119-713 cattle; 1,565 farms), and confined animal feeding operations (≥714 cattle; 160 farms). Group means were calculated (group=farm size category) for the farms' minimum, median, mean, 90th percentile, and maximum SPC and SCC. Statistical analysis showed that group means for median, mean, 90th percentile, and maximum SPC and SCC were almost always significantly higher for the small farm category than for the large farm and confined animal feeding operations farm categories. With SPC and SCC as quality criteria and the 3 farm size categories of ≤118, 119 to 713, and ≥714 cattle, the claim of Wisconsin smaller farms producing higher quality milk than Wisconsin larger farms cannot be supported.

Intrinsic and inducible resistance to hydrogen peroxide in Bifidobacterium species.

Interest in, and use of, bifidobacteria as a probiotic delivered in functional foods has increased dramatically in recent years. As a result of their anaerobic nature, oxidative stress can pose a major challenge to maintaining viability of bifidobacteria during functional food storage. To better understand the oxidative stress response in two industrially important bifidobacteria species, we examined the response of three strains of B. longum and three strains of B. animalis subsp. lactis to hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Each strain was exposed to a range of H2O2 concentrations (0-10 mM) to evaluate and compare intrinsic resistance to H2O2. Next, strains were tested for the presence of an inducible oxidative stress response by exposure to a sublethal H2O2 concentration for 20 or 60 min followed by challenge at a lethal H2O2 concentration. Results showed B. longum subsp. infantis ATCC 15697 had the highest level of intrinsic H2O2 resistance of all strains tested and B. animalis subsp. lactis BL-04 had the highest resistance among B. lactis strains. Inducible H2O2 resistance was detected in four strains, B. longum NCC2705, B. longum D2957, B. lactis RH-1, and B. lactis BL-04. Other strains showed either no difference or increased sensitivity to H2O2 after induction treatments. These data indicate that intrinsic and inducible resistance to hydrogen peroxide is strain specific in B. longum and B. lactis and suggest that for some strains, sublethal H2O2 treatments might help increase cell resistance to oxidative damage during production and storage of probiotic-containing foods.

Incident knee pain in the Nottingham community: a 12-year retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the community incidence of knee pain and associated risk factors over a 12-year period in people over the age of 40 years. METHOD: A cohort study of knee pain was undertaken in 2156 people from four general practices in North Nottinghamshire, UK. Knee pain was defined as 'pain around the knee for most days of at least a month'. Cumulative incidence over 12 years and person-year incidence rate of knee pain were estimated. Survival analysis was undertaken for time to the onset of knee pain. Hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated for relative risk between exposure and non-exposure. Cox regression model was used to adjust for confounding factors. RESULTS: The 12-year cumulative incidence of knee pain was 34.4% (32% for men and 35% for women), corresponding to an average incidence rate of 32 (31 for men and 34 for women)/1000 person-years. Incident knee pain was associated with female gender (HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.08, 1.49), obesity (1.80; 95% CI 1.37, 2.38), varus (1.68, 95% CI 1.15, 2.47) and valgus (1.83, 95% CI 1.05, 3.20) mal-alignment, and knee injury (2.37, 95% CI 2.98, 2.85). CONCLUSIONS: For people over age 40, one in three will develop knee pain within 12 years. On average, the risk of knee pain was 32/1000 person-years. This risk is associated with a variety of constitutional and environmental biomechanical insults to the knee. Some of these could be modified to possibly reduce the incidence of the condition.

Modelling the determinants of 2000 m rowing ergometer performance: a proportional, curvilinear allometric approach.

Previous studies have investigated the determinants of indoor rowing using correlations and linear regression. However, the power demands of ergometer rowing are proportional to the cube of the flywheel's (and boat's) speed. A rower's speed, therefore, should be proportional to the cube root (0.33) of power expended. Hence, the purpose of the present study was to explore the relationship between 2000 m indoor rowing speed and various measures of power of 76 elite rowers using proportional, curvilinear allometric models. The best single predictor of 2000 m rowing ergometer performance was power at VO(2max)(WVO(2max))(0.28), that explained R(2)=95.3% in rowing speed. The model realistically describes the greater increment in power required to improve a rower's performance by the same amount at higher speeds compared with that at slower speeds. Furthermore, the fitted exponent, 0.28 (95% confidence interval 0.226-0.334) encompasses 0.33, supporting the assumption that rowing speed is proportional to the cube root of power expended. Despite an R(2)=95.3%, the initial model was unable to explain "sex" and "weight-class" differences in rowing performances. By incorporating anaerobic as well as aerobic determinants, the resulting curvilinear allometric model was common to all rowers, irrespective of sex and weight class.

Short communication: Correlation of on-site inspection and laboratory milk testing results for Wisconsin grade A dairy farms in 2007 and 2008.

This study examined whether regulatory on-site dairy farm inspection results correlated with reported laboratory somatic cell count (SCC), standard plate count (SPC), and beta-lactam drug residue (DR) results for individual farms. Results were obtained for Wisconsin grade A dairy farms in 2007 and 2008 (>11,000 farms, >1.4 million data points). The proportion of farms failing an on-site inspection ranged from 12% for farms that had never failed an SCC test (>750,000 cells/mL), an SPC test (>100,000 cfu/mL), or a DR test (drug detected) to 55% for farms that had failed at least 1 of each type of test. Conditional probability analysis showed that the probability of a farm failing an on-site farm inspection was higher if the farm had failed a DR test and increased as the proportion of samples failing SCC or SPC or both increased. However, the statistical correlations were weak (R

Lethality of home-style dehydrator processes against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and salmonella serovars in the manufacture of ground-and-formed beef jerky and the potential for using a pathogen surrogate in process validation.

Ground-and-formed beef jerky can be made easily at home with ground beef and kits that include spice, cure, and jerky-forming equipment. Ground beef poses inherent risks of illness due to Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella contamination, making adequate pathogen lethality important in jerky manufacturing. We evaluated the effectiveness of drying regimes at eliminating E. coli O157:H7 and Salmonella in seasoned ground-and-formed beef jerky manufactured with three home-style dehydrators and one small commercial unit. Inoculated jerky strips were dried for up to 12 or 24 h in a home-style or the commercial unit, respectively, with target drying temperatures ranging from 51.7 degrees C (125 degrees F) to 71.1 degrees C (160 degrees F). Pathogen lethality varied with seasoning, temperature, and drying time (n = 288 samples). Lethality against E. coli O157:H7 ranged from 1.5 log CFU (Jerky Xpress, 57.2 degrees C [135 degrees F], 4 h) to 6.4 log CFU (Gardenmaster, 68.3 degrees C [155 degrees F], 12 h), and varied with seasoning. Lethality against Salmonella ranged from 1.7 log CFU (Jerky Xpress, 57.2 degrees C [135 degrees F], 4 h) to 6.0 log CFU (Gardenmaster, 68.3 degrees C [155 degrees F], 12 h), and also varied with seasoning. There was a > or =5-log CFU reduction in both pathogens in 0, 10, and 27 % of samples at 4, 8, and 12 h, respectively. Heating jerky for 10 min at 135 degrees C (275 degrees F) 4 or 6 h postdrying increased lethality, on average, 2.99 log CFU for Salmonella and 3.02 log CFU for E. coli O157:H7. The use of a lactic acid bacterium culture (Pediococcus spp.) as a pathogen surrogate accurately predicted safety in 28 % of samples containing E. coli O157:H7 and 78% of Salmonella-inoculated samples.

Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef after sublethal heat shock and subsequent isothermal cooking.

Heat shock of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in broth media reportedly leads to enhanced survival during subsequent heating in broth medium or ground beef. Survival of E. coli O157:H7 during slow cooking thus may be enhanced by prior exposure to sublethal heat shock conditions, thereby jeopardizing the safety of slow-cooked products such as beef roasts. This study examined the effect of heat shocking E. coli O157:H7-inoculated lean (6 to 9% fat) ground beef on the survival of the pathogen in the same ground beef during a subsequent 4-h, 54.4 degrees C cooking process. Six different combinations of heat shock temperature (47.2, 48.3, or 49.4 degrees C) and time (5 or 30 min) were applied to a five-strain cocktail of microaerophilically grown cells in 25 g of prewarmed ground beef, which was followed by cooking at 54.4 degrees C. Temperature during a 30-min heat shock treatment did not significantly affect E. coli O157:H7 survival during subsequent isothermal cooking (P > 0.05). Survival after a 5-min heat shock was higher when the heat shock temperature was 48.3 or 49.4 degrees C (P < 0.05) than when it was 47.2 degrees C. The D-values at 54.4 degrees C (130 degrees F) (D54.4-value) of the process significantly increased only when cells were exposed to a heat shock combination of 5 min at 49.4 degrees C. Mean (n = 3 trials) reductions in E. coli O157:H7 during the 4-h, 54.4 degrees C isothermal cooking process ranged from 4.3 to 7.5 log CFU/g. Heating E. coli O157:H7-contaminated beef at the high end of the sublethal temperature range for 5 min could increase survival of E. coli O157:H7 during subsequent slow-cooking processes.

Validation of commercial processes for inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, and Listeria monocytogenes on the surface of whole-muscle turkey jerky.

Three strips of turkey breast meat were separately inoculated with multistrain mixtures of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella Typhimurium, or Listeria monocytogenes and placed on the top, middle, and bottom levels of a loading rack. The strips on the rack were then loaded into a smokehouse and cooked-dried for either 2.5 or 3.5 h at 73.8 degrees C (165 degrees F) or 1.5 or 2.5 h at 82.2 degrees C (180 degrees F) with constant hickory smoking and without addition of humidity. Cooking-drying marinated turkey jerky at 73.8 degrees C (165 degrees F) or 82.2 degrees C (180 degrees F) resulted in a >or= 7.1 log(10) cfu/strip reduction of all 3 pathogens. For nonmarinated jerky strips that were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 or L. monocytogenes and cooked-dried at 82.2 degrees C (180 degrees F), a reduction of >or= 7.4 log(10) cfu/strip was observed, whereas for strips that were inoculated with Salmonella, a reduction of >or= 6.8 log(10) cfu/strip was observed. Cooking-drying nonmarinated turkey breast strips at 73.8 degrees C (165 degrees F) for 3.5 h resulted in a reduction of ca. 7.1 to 7.6 log(10) cfu/strip for all 3 pathogens, whereas for strips that were cooked-dried for 2.5 h, a reduction of ca. 5.4 to 6.2 log(10) cfu/strip was observed. Only marinated turkey jerky that was cooked-dried for 3.5 h at 73.8 degrees C (165 degrees F) satisfied the USDA-FSIS standard of identity (moisture: protein

Factors associated with Salmonella prevalence on pork carcasses in very small abattoirs in Wisconsin.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has expressed concern over Salmonella prevalence on pork carcasses. Our objectives were to survey the prevalence of Salmonella on pork carcasses in very small Wisconsin abattoirs, and identify processing conditions and indicator bacteria levels associated with reduced Salmonella prevalence. During April to July 2007, sponge samples were obtained from 181 pork carcasses at 10 Wisconsin abattoirs before carcass washing (carcass half A), and after washing and chilling and before fabrication (carcass half B). Each sample was categorized by whether the carcass was skinned, by wash-water temperature (7 to 43 degrees C), and the duration (1 or 2 days), temperature, and percent relative humidity of chilling. Sponge samples were analyzed qualitatively for Salmonella and quantitatively for Escherichia coli, coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, and aerobic plate count (APC). Salmonella prevalences on skinned and unskinned prewash carcasses were 11.7 and 8.3%, respectively. Corresponding values for chilled carcasses were 32.0 and 19.5% for 1-day chilled carcasses, and 11.4 and 14.7% for 2-day chilled carcasses. Lower Salmonella prevalence on prewash carcasses was significantly related to lower prewash carcass APC levels (odds ratio = 7.8 per change of 1.0 log CFU/cm2), while lower Salmonella prevalence on chilled carcasses was significantly related to 2-day chilling (odds ratio = 5.2), and chilled-carcass levels of coliforms, Enterobacteriaceae, and APC (odds ratio = 1.5 to 1.9 per change of 1.0 log CFU/cm2). Salmonella prevalence on chilled pork carcasses in very small Wisconsin plants could be reduced by chilling carcasses 2 days before fabrication and improving carcass-handling hygiene.