bioMerieux Launches Two Innovative Chromogenic Media for Food-Borne Pathogens

bioMerieux is enhancing its line of food safety solutions with the launch of two innovative
chromogenic culture media:

chromID™ Sakazakii and chromID™ Vibrio

Enterobacter sakazakii is considered to be a neonatal pathogen. Its presence in infant food
products, including powdered milk, can cause meningitis, sepsis and other serious infections, primarily in newborn or premature infants. 40% to 80% of children who become infected die¹, and those who survive can suffer severe and long-lasting complications.

The chromID Sakazakii medium fills the need for precise, reliable controls. Its innovative
formula reveals two Enterobacter sakazakii-specific enzyme activities that offer a high level of detection sensitivity in just 24 hours of incubation.

Because of its formula combining 2 chromogenic substrates, chromID Sakazakii demonstrates 2 Enterobacter sakazakii-specific enzyme activities; D-glucopyranosidase and SsD-cellobiosidase; thus offering a very high level of detection sensitivity within 24 hours of incubation. Validated for detection per various enrichment protocols and for incubation at 35-37°C as well as at 41.5°, it offers great flexibility of use.

Vibrio are bacteria that are naturally present in environmental water and are strongly resistant to high salt concentrations. chromID Vibrio detects two species that are especially harmful for humans. Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae are responsible for severe intestinal diseases including cholera. Cholera is still found in more than 80 countries, and is responsible for approximately 100,000 deaths each year.²

The combination of a chromogenic substrate to reveal Ssgalactosidase activity, a sugar, and an inhibitor cocktail, allow for the specific and distinct detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio cholerae.

'Protecting consumer safety is a priority for bioMerieux, and we are pleased to be able to offer
an innovative technology for detecting two food-borne pathogens that cause severe infection,'
stated Alexandre Merieux, bioMerieux Corporate Vice President, Industrial Microbiology.
bioMerieux is a pioneer in the development of chromogenic culture media. The high degree of specificity of this media limits the number of confirmations and its innovative formulation, with chromogenic substrates, makes reading easier and provides significant time-savings for laboratories. Today, the company offers agri-food laboratories a complete line of chromogenic media, meeting the strictest quality requirements.

References:
1 Bowen AB, Braden CR. Invasive Enterobacter sakazakii disease in infants. Emerg Infect Dis 2006; 12:1185-1189
2 WHO