Isolation and characterization of Enterobacter sakazakii from milk foods and environment

Dairy products, clinical and environmental samples were analysed for the presence of Enterobacter sakazakii. From 150 samples 9 isolates were identified as E. sakazakii by phenotypic characterization and 16S rRNA gene based PCR assay. Enterobacter sakazakii could be isolated from infant milk powder, Yamuna river water, raw milk and a diarrhoeal child's stools. Two suspected isolates from faeces of an apparently healthy goat were also confirmed to be E. sakazakii. Response to 26 antibiotics varied with the isolates. All strains produced DNase and 10 strains showed beta-haemolysis, indicating their pathogenic potential. Occurrence of E. sakazakii in various test samples suggests the risk of developing neonatal infections.