Open Access
Copyright: The authors. This article is an open access
article licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License
(http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0) which permits unrestricted use,
distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the work is properly
cited.
Research
3.
Isolation of psychrotrophic multiple drug
resistant Pseudomonas from pasteurised milk -
A. K. Beena, A. R. Ranjini, T. G. Riya
Vet World. 2011; 4(8): 349-352
doi: 10.5455/vetworld.2011.349-352
Abstract
The present study was taken up with the objective
of assessing the microbiological quality of milk
processed in an organized dairy plant. The
standard plate count and coliform count of all the
samples tested were within the limits specified by
Prevention of Food Adulteration standards. However
microbiological analysis of pasteurized milk
revealed a unique bacterial profile characterized
by the predominance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Assessment of potential of the isolate to multiply
at 7ºC confirmed its psychrotrophic nature.
Antibiogram of the isolate revealed that, of the
seven antibiotics tested, the isolate was
sensitive only to enrofloxacin. Results are
suggestive of the trait of multiple drug
resistance in the isolate. Such multiple drug
resistant (MDR) bacteria in processed foods are
potent biological hazards as there are
possibilities for resistance genes to be spread to
human beings via food. Isolation of such Multiple
drug resistant (MDR) bacteria in pasteurised milk,
an essential component of human diet is highly
significant from the public health point of view.
Presence of Pseudomonas species in processed
products implies that post processing
contamination can hinder even the quality of
properly processed products. The result signifies
the importance of appropriate handling practices
of processed food to assure safe products at
consumer level.
Keywords: psychrotroph,
multiple drug resistant, Pseudomonas, pasteurized
milk
