| Congresso Brasileiro de Microbiologia 2023 | Resumo: 367-2 | ||||
Resumo:ABSTRACT:
In the household, the primary deficiencies in food handling are mainly due to inadequate hygiene conditions in the areas and surfaces where food is processed, and cross-contamination with the commonly used utensils. Cross-contamination is the transfer of microorganisms from one contaminated food or material to another. Cutting surfaces, which are used extensively in the preparation and handling of both raw and ready-to-eat foods, can become a persistent source of contamination due to a lack of operator awareness of proper hygiene, storage and preservation practices for these surfaces. This lack of awareness can result in the retention of organic matter and microorganisms from raw foods that continue to adhere to the surfaces and perpetuate the risk of contamination. Listeria monocytogenes (LM) is a bacterial pathogen responsible for causing listeriosis, a disease that primarily affects pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and individuals with weakened immune systems. Healthy individuals can also be affected by this bacterium. Several studies conducted in simulated scenarios have documented the presence and spread of LM on surfaces due to cross-contamination. These findings may not fully capture the true behavior of the pathogen in the household, as multiple parameters play a critical role in the contamination and persistence of LM on cutting surfaces. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the presence of LM on wooden and plastic cutting surfaces collected from households in the city of Botucatu, São Paulo State. One-hundred household cutting boards of plastic (n=50) and wood (n=50) were collected. Two 44 mm diameter fragments of each sample were aseptically sawed, and, after pre-enrichment, the fragments were placed into ultrasonic bath for 20 minutes. The LM detection followed ISO 11290-1:2017. The overall frequency of LM was 3% (3/100), from plastic (n=2) and wood (n=1). Cutting boards can provide an environment conducive to the attachment, growth, and survival of LM. In conclusion, household cutting surfaces can serve as reservoirs for LM, leading to significant public health implications.
Keywords: cross-contamination, pathogens, biofilm.
Development Agency: Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - Brasil (CAPES).
Palavras-chave: contaminação cruzada, patógenos, biofilme Agência de fomento:CAPES | |||||