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11.10.2022 - Foods

Find the contamination source of Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes using the MALDI-TOF method

In crisis situations, it is necessary to quickly identify and eliminate the cause of contamination.

Contamination of food with Listeria monocytogenes has increasingly been the cause of recalls, illnesses, or crises in recent years.

In these cases, quick and reliable determination of the contamination cause ("Root-cause-analysis") is required. This can be a significant challenge, as Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes are widespread in our environment and their occurrence in food businesses usually cannot be completely excluded.

These bacteria can regularly be introduced into the operation through raw materials or personnel, for example. However, many crisis cases caused by Listeria monocytogenes are due to strains that have permanently settled in the operations. These strains are also referred to as "persistent" Listeria monocytogenes. Often, these Listeria strains originate from biofilms.

Persistent Listeria monocytogenes strains have been the cause of severe disease outbreaks in several cases in the past. To determine the origin of the bacterial strains and decide whether they originate from raw materials or from the company's environment, a strain comparison is required.

At BAV INSTITUT, these investigations are carried out using the MALDI-TOF method. This method is faster and more cost-effective than molecular biological methods, which are also used for this purpose. The results of the strain comparison investigations with MALDI-TOF are available on the same day as the cultural isolation.

Strain comparison studies are also possible for other pathogens such as Salmonella, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Cronobacter spp., and more. But this method can also be successfully used for quick cause analysis in contamination with spoilage organisms such as lactic acid bacteria, acetic acid bacteria, pseudomonads, or yeasts.

With this method and other rapid methods such as RT-PCR, our experts can provide quick and reliable support in crisis situations.

If you have any questions, we are happy to assist you.