Assessing the epidemiological data of Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning occurred in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil

Staphylococcal food poisoning is one of the most frequent foodborne illnesses worldwide and it is caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with enterotoxins produced by some strains of Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Southern Brazil, S. aureus has been identified as the second most frequent agent of foodborne illnesses in the last two decades. The aim of the present study was to assess and analyse the epidemiological data of S. aureus food poisoning occurred in the State of RS during the years of 2000 to 2002. The official records of epidemiological investigations carried out by the Sanitary Surveillance Services of the State of RS were analysed. Among foodborne outbreaks for which aetiology was determined, S. aureus was identified as the responsible agent of 57 foodborne outbreaks, being 42 (74%) confirmed by microbiological analyses and 15 (26%) confirmed by clinical symptoms and/or epidemiological data. Staphylococcal outbreaks were responsible for the exposition of 5,991 persons, of which 1,940 (32%) were interviewed by the Sanitary Surveillance officers. The most affected age group corresponded to people with 20 to 49 years old (48%), where men (48%) and women (52%) were affected similarly. The main involved food vehicles were meats servings (35%), followed by pastries (25%), cheese (23%), pasta (11%) and potato salad with homemade mayonnaise (11%). The majority of the outbreaks occurred inside private homes (33%) followed by commercial food establishments (28%). Inadequate control of temperature and failures in general hygiene practices were identified as the main factors responsible for the outbreaks. In conclusion, S. aureus was an important food poisoning etiological agent in the State of RS during 2000 to 2002 and its prevention depends on control measures involving different parts of the food chain

Avanços da segurança de alimentos no Brasil

In recent years, developments related to food safety regulation and implementation of food safety management systems (FSMS) have occurred in Brazil. Although it is difficult to affirm if the number of foodborne diseases has decreased, implementation of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), Standard Operation Procedures (SOP), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) have increased in Brazilian food services and food industries. Furthermore, at present, Brazil uses the risk analysis concept for the elaboration of food regulation and to carry out food safety studies. As a result of this development, sanitary services are better prepared. Brazilian regulations consider Brazilian specific scenarios and are aligned with some of the most advanced regulations worldwide, and institutions that implement FSMS have worked intensively. The present study aimed to discuss some of the recent food safety developments in Brazil, focusing on FSMS implementation and regulation.Nos últimos anos, um expressivo avanço na regulação e utilização de sistemas de gestão da segurança de alimentos (SGSA) tem ocorrido no Brasil. Ainda que seja difícil afirmar que o número Doenças Transmissíveis por Alimentos (DTA) tenha diminuído, sistemas como as Boas Práticas de Fabricação ou Boas Práticas (BPF/BP), Procedimentos Operacionais Padronizados (POP) e Análise de Perigos e Pontos Críticos de Controle (APPCC) estão cada vez mais presentes nos serviços de alimentação e indústrias de alimentos brasileiras. Além disso, ultimamente o Brasil vem utilizando os conceitos de Análise de Riscos (AR) na elaboração de suas legislações e no estudo de problemas relacionados à segurança de alimentos. Como resultado desses avanços, as vigilâncias estão cada vez mais preparadas, as legislações têm contemplado as especificidades brasileiras e, ao mesmo tempo, estão alinhadas com algumas das mais modernas do mundo e os órgãos que fomentam as implementações dos SGSA têm trabalhado incessantemente. O presente estudo tem o objetivo de analisar alguns dos avanços da segurança de alimentos no Brasil, enfocando principalmente as implementações de SGSA e as legislações que regulam os diferentes setores de alimentos no Brasil. Esses temas foram abordados através de revisões bibliográficas, análise de dados e pelo depoimento de pessoas que vivenciaram tais mudanças

Evaluation of physical and chemical interactions involved in the adhesion of food pathogens in metal surfaces of equipment used in food production

A qualidade e a segurança dos produtos fabricados pelas indústrias de alimentos ficam comprometidas quando bactérias aderem e se multiplicam nas superfícies dos equipamentos utilizados na produção de alimentos. O aço inoxidável AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) 304 e AISI 316 são os mais utilizados na fabricação de diversos tipos de equipamentos e utensílios para as indústrias de alimentos, sendo que muitos deles contêm soldas entre as junções de suas diferentes partes. Alguns pesquisadores relacionam a presença destas soldas à rugosidade e à dificuldade de higienização e consequente adesão microbiana nestas estruturas. No entanto, atualmente, existem poucos trabalhos que estudam o processo de adesão microbiana em soldas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a adesão de um patógeno alimentar Gram-negativo (Salmonella Enteritidis) e um Grampositivo (Listeria monocytogenes) em aços inoxidáveis e em soldas MIG (Metal Inert Gas) e TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas); avaliar a influência da topografia e rugosidade dos materiais e a hidrofobicidade das superfícies e das células no processo de adesão; determinar a energia livre de interação e a energia de adesão entre as células e as superfícies e, por fim; estudar o efeito da modificação da superfície dos aços inoxidáveis através de nitretação a plasma na adesão de S. Enteritidis e L. monocytogenes. Os resultados mostraram que não houve diferença significativa (p > 0,05) entre o número de células aderidas às superfícies dos dois tipos de soldas e dos dois aços inoxidáveis para ambas as bactérias e indicaram que não houve correlação entre a adesão e a hidrofobicidade e a rugosidade das superfícies. O tratamento de nitretação a plasma foi capaz de alterar as superfícies dos aços inoxidáveis, reduzir a adesão bacteriana e, portanto, mostra-se como uma promissora tecnologia para prevenção da adesão microbiana.The quality and safety of products manufactured by food industry are threatened when bacteria attach to and grow on surfaces of equipment used in food production. The stainless steel AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) 304 and AISI 316 are the most various types used in the manufacture of equipment and utensils for the food industries. Many of these equipments contain welds between its different parts. Some researchers related the presence of these welds to increase the roughness and the difficulty of cleaning, and consequently microbial adhesion occures in these structures. However, currently, there are few researchers that study the process of microbial adhesion in welds. The present study aimed to investigate the adhesion of a Gram-negative (Salmonella Enteritidis) and Gram-positive (Listeria monocytogenes) food pathogens in stainless steels and MIG (Metal Inert Gas) and TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welds; evaluate the influence of topography and roughness of the materials and the hydrophobicity of the material surfaces and cells in the attachment process and determine the free energy of interaction and adhesion energy between cells and surfaces; and finally, also to evaluate the effect of plasma nitriding surface modification of stainless steels on the adhesion of S. Enteritidis and L. monocytogenes. The results showed that there is no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the numbers of cells attached to the surfaces of welds and stainless steel for both bacteria and indicated that there was no correlation between adhesion and hydrophobicity and roughness of surfaces. The plasma nitriding treatment was able to modify the surfaces of the stainless steel reducing bacterial adhesion and therefore there is demonstrated a promising technology for preventing microbial adhesion

Evaluation of physical and chemical interactions involved in the adhesion of food pathogens in metal surfaces of equipment used in food production

A qualidade e a segurança dos produtos fabricados pelas indústrias de alimentos ficam comprometidas quando bactérias aderem e se multiplicam nas superfícies dos equipamentos utilizados na produção de alimentos. O aço inoxidável AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) 304 e AISI 316 são os mais utilizados na fabricação de diversos tipos de equipamentos e utensílios para as indústrias de alimentos, sendo que muitos deles contêm soldas entre as junções de suas diferentes partes. Alguns pesquisadores relacionam a presença destas soldas à rugosidade e à dificuldade de higienização e consequente adesão microbiana nestas estruturas. No entanto, atualmente, existem poucos trabalhos que estudam o processo de adesão microbiana em soldas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar a adesão de um patógeno alimentar Gram-negativo (Salmonella Enteritidis) e um Grampositivo (Listeria monocytogenes) em aços inoxidáveis e em soldas MIG (Metal Inert Gas) e TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas); avaliar a influência da topografia e rugosidade dos materiais e a hidrofobicidade das superfícies e das células no processo de adesão; determinar a energia livre de interação e a energia de adesão entre as células e as superfícies e, por fim; estudar o efeito da modificação da superfície dos aços inoxidáveis através de nitretação a plasma na adesão de S. Enteritidis e L. monocytogenes. Os resultados mostraram que não houve diferença significativa (p > 0,05) entre o número de células aderidas às superfícies dos dois tipos de soldas e dos dois aços inoxidáveis para ambas as bactérias e indicaram que não houve correlação entre a adesão e a hidrofobicidade e a rugosidade das superfícies. O tratamento de nitretação a plasma foi capaz de alterar as superfícies dos aços inoxidáveis, reduzir a adesão bacteriana e, portanto, mostra-se como uma promissora tecnologia para prevenção da adesão microbiana.The quality and safety of products manufactured by food industry are threatened when bacteria attach to and grow on surfaces of equipment used in food production. The stainless steel AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) 304 and AISI 316 are the most various types used in the manufacture of equipment and utensils for the food industries. Many of these equipments contain welds between its different parts. Some researchers related the presence of these welds to increase the roughness and the difficulty of cleaning, and consequently microbial adhesion occures in these structures. However, currently, there are few researchers that study the process of microbial adhesion in welds. The present study aimed to investigate the adhesion of a Gram-negative (Salmonella Enteritidis) and Gram-positive (Listeria monocytogenes) food pathogens in stainless steels and MIG (Metal Inert Gas) and TIG (Tungsten Inert Gas) welds; evaluate the influence of topography and roughness of the materials and the hydrophobicity of the material surfaces and cells in the attachment process and determine the free energy of interaction and adhesion energy between cells and surfaces; and finally, also to evaluate the effect of plasma nitriding surface modification of stainless steels on the adhesion of S. Enteritidis and L. monocytogenes. The results showed that there is no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the numbers of cells attached to the surfaces of welds and stainless steel for both bacteria and indicated that there was no correlation between adhesion and hydrophobicity and roughness of surfaces. The plasma nitriding treatment was able to modify the surfaces of the stainless steel reducing bacterial adhesion and therefore there is demonstrated a promising technology for preventing microbial adhesion

Sobrevivência de Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus e Salmonella Enteritidis durante o armazenamento de hambúrguer de frango

Com o objetivo de avaliar a sobrevivência ao congelamento de microrganismos potencialmente patogênicos, hambúrgueres de frango foram contaminados com Escherichia coli (ECHC), Staphylococcus aureus (SAFH) e Salmonella Enteritidis (SE86) e armazenados a -18ºC. Os mesmos microrganismos e ainda E. coli ATCC 25972, S. aureus ATCC 25923, and S. Enteritidis ATCC 13076 também foram inoculados em água peptonada 0,1% e congelados a -18ºC, a fim de avaliar um possível efeito protetor dos componentes do hambúrguer sobre os microrganismos. A quantificação dos microrganismos foi realizada nos intervalos de 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 21 e 28 dias de congelamento. Com o propósito de estudar as alterações nos ácidos graxos das células microbianas expostas ao congelamento, foram extraídos os ácidos graxos de cada bactéria, congelada e não congelada, e estes foram analisados por cromatografia gasosa. Os resultados demonstraram que, de modo geral, houve uma redução média de menos de 1 unidade logarítmica (log10) no número de células artificialmente inoculadas em hambúrgueres de frango. As reduções obtidas para cada microrganismo em água peptonada 0,1% foram significativamente (P0,05) maiores do que as reduções observadas em hambúrguer de frango, sugerindo a existência de um efeito crioprotetor dos componentes do hambúrguer. Em todos os experimentos, as reduções mais expressivas foram observadas nas primeiras semanas de congelamento. Ocorreram alterações expressivas na composição de ácidos graxos de S. aureus (SAFH) e S. aureus ATCC 25923, o que pode indicar que estes microrganismos alteraram a composição dos seus ácidos graxos como resposta ao estresse causado pelo congelamento

Sobrevivência de Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus e Salmonella enteritidis durante o armazenamento de hambúrguer de frango congelado

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Sobrevivência de Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus e Salmonella enteritidis durante o armazenamento de hambúrguer de frango congelado

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Assessing the epidemiological data of Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning occurred in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil

Staphylococcal food poisoning is one of the most frequent foodborne illnesses worldwide and it is caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with enterotoxins produced by some strains of Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Southern Brazil, S. aureus has been identified as the second most frequent agent of foodborne illnesses in the last two decades. The aim of the present study was to assess and analyse the epidemiological data of S. aureus food poisoning occurred in the State of RS during the years of 2000 to 2002. The official records of epidemiological investigations carried out by the Sanitary Surveillance Services of the State of RS were analysed. Among foodborne outbreaks for which aetiology was determined, S. aureus was identified as the responsible agent of 57 foodborne outbreaks, being 42 (74%) confirmed by microbiological analyses and 15 (26%) confirmed by clinical symptoms and/or epidemiological data. Staphylococcal outbreaks were responsible for the exposition of 5,991 persons, of which 1,940 (32%) were interviewed by the Sanitary Surveillance officers. The most affected age group corresponded to people with 20 to 49 years old (48%), where men (48%) and women (52%) were affected similarly. The main involved food vehicles were meats servings (35%), followed by pastries (25%), cheese (23%), pasta (11%) and potato salad with homemade mayonnaise (11%). The majority of the outbreaks occurred inside private homes (33%) followed by commercial food establishments (28%). Inadequate control of temperature and failures in general hygiene practices were identified as the main factors responsible for the outbreaks. In conclusion, S. aureus was an important food poisoning etiological agent in the State of RS during 2000 to 2002 and its prevention depends on control measures involving different parts of the food chain

Assessing the epidemiological data of Staphylococcus aureus food poisoning occurred in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil

Staphylococcal food poisoning is one of the most frequent foodborne illnesses worldwide and it is caused by the ingestion of food contaminated with enterotoxins produced by some strains of Staphylococcus (S.) aureus. In the State of Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Southern Brazil, S. aureus has been identified as the second most frequent agent of foodborne illnesses in the last two decades. The aim of the present study was to assess and analyse the epidemiological data of S. aureus food poisoning occurred in the State of RS during the years of 2000 to 2002. The official records of epidemiological investigations carried out by the Sanitary Surveillance Services of the State of RS were analysed. Among foodborne outbreaks for which aetiology was determined, S. aureus was identified as the responsible agent of 57 foodborne outbreaks, being 42 (74%) confirmed by microbiological analyses and 15 (26%) confirmed by clinical symptoms and/or epidemiological data. Staphylococcal outbreaks were responsible for the exposition of 5,991 persons, of which 1,940 (32%) were interviewed by the Sanitary Surveillance officers. The most affected age group corresponded to people with 20 to 49 years old (48%), where men (48%) and women (52%) were affected similarly. The main involved food vehicles were meats servings (35%), followed by pastries (25%), cheese (23%), pasta (11%) and potato salad with homemade mayonnaise (11%). The majority of the outbreaks occurred inside private homes (33%) followed by commercial food establishments (28%). Inadequate control of temperature and failures in general hygiene practices were identified as the main factors responsible for the outbreaks. In conclusion, S. aureus was an important food poisoning etiological agent in the State of RS during 2000 to 2002 and its prevention depends on control measures involving different parts of the food chain