Inactivation of Enterobacter sakazakii in Reconstituted Infant Formula by Monocaprylin

Abstract

Enterobacter sakazakii is an emerging pathogen that causes meningitis, bacteremia, sepsis, and necrotizing enterocolitis in neonates and children, with a mortality rate of 14%. Epidemiological studies have implicated dried infant formula as the principal source of the pathogen. Caprylic acid is a natural eight-carbon fatty acid present in breast milk and bovine milk and is approved as generally recognizable as safe by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The objective of this study was to determine the antibacterial effect of monocaprylin (monoglyceride ester of caprylic acid) on E. sakazakii in reconstituted infant formula. A five-strain mixture of E. sakazakii was inoculated into 10-ml samples of reconstituted infant formula (at 6.0 log CFU/ml) followed by 0, 25, or 50 mM (1%) monocaprylin. The samples were incubated at 37 or 23 degrees C for 0, 1, 6, and 24 h and at 8 or 4 degrees C for 0, 6, 24, and 48 h, and the surviving populations of E. sakazakii at each sampling time were counted. The treatments containing monocaprylin significantly reduced the population of E. sakazakii (P < 0.05) compared with the controls. Monocaprylin (50 mM) reduced the pathogen by >5 log CFU/ml by 1 h of incubation at 37 or 23 degrees C and by 24 h of incubation at 8 or 4 degrees C. Results indicate that monocaprylin could potentially be used to inactivate E. sakazakii in reconstituted infant formula; however, sensory studies are warranted before its use can be recommended.

Antimicrobial activities of medium-chain fatty acids and monoacylglycerols on Cronobacter sakazakii DBM 3157^T and Cronobacter malonaticus DBM

“…The aggregation of bacteria into clusters or biofilms most likely increases their survival in the presence of antimicrobial compounds. Nair et al (2004) observed that monocaprylin treatment at 25 and 50mM (5.5 and 10.9 mg/ml) reduced the number of viable cells in C. sakazakii cultures to 2.0 log 10 CFU/ml and to an undetectable level, respectively, following a 1-h incubation at 37°C. The authors suggested that monocaprylin could potentially be used to inactivate C. sakazakii in reconstituted infant formula.…”

“…Both caprylic acid and its monoglyceride monocaprylin were active against Campylobacter jejuni (Molatová et al 2010). In the case of Cronobacter sp., Nair et al (2004) reported that monocaprylin displays a significant inhibitory activity against C. sakazakii strains that were isolated from infant formulae or processing plants. Monocaprylin displayed antimicrobial activity both at room temperature (23°C) and at lower temperatures (8°C and 4°C).…”

The Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopic and Mass Spectrometric Metabolomics Studies of Ankaferd Hemostat.

“…Biological fatty acids such as octanoic acid, heptanoic acid, decanoic acid, eicosanoic acid, octadecanoic acid, hexadecanoic acid, and others (Tables 1 and 2) are considered as anti-infectives. [32][33][34] Therefore, our results indicating the presence of fatty acids in the metabolic content of Ankaferd could be another clue of the anti-infective actions of the ABS.…”

The effect of monolaurin on the colour and microbiological safety of nitrite reduced sausages

“…and Clostridium perfrigens. Known for its positive effect on the human immune system, monolaurin has been applied in various food products such as infant formulas [18], meat products [13] and other products where this food additive has shown its pronounced antimicrobial activity. Kabara and Marshall, [14] are pointing out the antimicrobial activity of monolaurin and suggesting that this antimicrobial should be included in the daily food supplement uptake, since it has proven a positive effect on the human immune system.…”