Cronobacter sakazakii (Enterobacter sakazakii): An Emerging Foodborne Pathogen

Abstract

Cronobacter sakazakii ( Enterobacter sakazakii ) is an emerging pathogen that causes necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and meningitis. This bacterium is opportunistic pathogen and is linked with life-threatening infections in neonates and elderly persons. It is considered as ubiquitous organism and can be found in a broad range of foods & food ingredients and in water, in a variety of areas, including hospitals and houses though outbreaks most commonly associated with the ingestion of contaminated powdered infant formula (PIF). International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods has ranked C. sakazakii a “severe hazard for restricted populations.” It poses high tolerance to environmental stresses such as osmotic stress, elevated temperature etc. and decontamination processes and has broad antibiotic resistance and resistance to bile salts and disinfectants. Cronobacter sakazakii may survive in macrophage cells and efficiently attach to and invade epithelial cell lines, produce exopolysaccharide, form biofilm and has active efflux pumps. Controlling the organism in the production environment, thereby reducing dissemination, necessitates the provision of suitable diagnostic tools. Appropriate measures by parents, food and infant formula manufacturers, and health care providers, as well as understanding of the pathogenesis, are important in the prevention of C. sakazakii -related infections.