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Presence of soil-dwelling clostridia in commercial powdered infant formulas

Jason R Barash1, Jennifer K Hsia, Stephen S Arnon

  • 1Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program, Division of Communicable Disease Control, Center for Infectious Diseases, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA.

The Journal of Pediatrics
|December 17, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Clostridium spores, including Clostridium sporogenes, were found in U.S. powdered infant formula (PIF). While no neurotoxigenic clostridia were detected, this indicates a potential risk for infant botulism from PIF.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Food Safety
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Infant botulism cases linked to powdered infant formula (PIF) in the UK prompted further investigation.
  • Clostridium botulinum was previously isolated from PIF associated with infant botulism.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the presence and types of clostridial spores in U.S.-manufactured PIF.
  • To assess the potential risk of infant botulism associated with U.S. PIF.

Main Methods:

  • Anaerobic culture of 30 PIF samples ingested by infants with botulism.
  • Culture of 9 market-purchased PIF samples.
  • Identification and enumeration of isolated clostridia using standard microbiologic and molecular methods.

Main Results:

  • Clostridial spores were detected in 17% of PIF samples ingested by patients and 78% of market-purchased samples.
  • Clostridium sporogenes was the most frequently isolated species, followed by Clostridium butyricum and other soil-dwelling clostridial species.
  • No neurotoxigenic clostridia were found; spore counts ranged from 1.1 to >23 per 100g.

Conclusions:

  • Clostridium sporogenes shares physiological similarities with proteolytic Clostridium botulinum strains and has a similar environmental reservoir.
  • The presence of C. sporogenes and other potentially pathogenic clostridia in U.S. PIF suggests a potential risk for neurotoxigenic clostridial spores.
  • While neurotoxigenic strains were not found, the presence of related species warrants continued monitoring of PIF for infant safety.
Abstract

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