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Are Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus Isolated from Powdered Infant Formula a Hazard for Infants? A Genomic

Julio Parra-Flores1, Adriana Cabal-Rosel2, Beatriz Daza-Prieto2

  • 1Department of Nutrition and Public Health, Universidad del Bío-Bío, Chillán 3800708, Chile.

Foods (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 26, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Powdered infant formulas can harbor antibiotic-resistant bacteria like Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus. These microbes carry virulence and resistance genes, posing a health risk to infants.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Genomics
  • Food Safety

Background:

  • Powdered infant formulas (PIF) are widely used but can be contaminated with microorganisms as they are not sterile.
  • Enterobacteriaceae (ENT) and Enterococcus species are common contaminants found in PIF.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To genomically characterize ENT and Enterococcus strains isolated from PIF.
  • To identify antibiotic resistance and virulence genes within these strains.

Main Methods:

  • Strain identification using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS).
  • Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for genomic typing.
  • Analysis of resistance and virulence genes using specialized software (SeqSphere+, CARD, ResFinder, PlasmidFinder) and disk diffusion method.

Main Results:

  • Nineteen isolates were analyzed, including Kosakonia cowanii, Enterobacter hormaechei, Franconibacter helveticus, Mixta calida, and Enterococcus faecium.
  • Detected resistance to beta-lactams, cephalosporins, and macrolides.
  • Identified numerous antibiotic resistance genes (e.g., AcrAB-TolC, bla7, qacJ) and virulence genes (e.g., astA, ompA, efaAfm), along with heat-shock protein genes (IbpA, ClpL).

Conclusions:

  • The presence of multidrug-resistant ENT and Enterococcus in PIF is a significant health concern for infants.
  • These bacteria carry genes conferring antibiotic resistance and virulence, increasing potential health risks.
  • Genomic characterization is crucial for understanding and mitigating microbial risks in infant nutrition.

Keywords:
Enterobacteriaceaeantibiotic resistanceinfantspowdered infant formulavirulence

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