Comparison of PetrifilmTM AC and pour plate techniques used for the heterotrophic aerobic bacterial count in water.

Heterotrophic bacteria are commonly found in water samples. While these Heterotrophic Bacterial/Plate Counts (HPC) do not necessarily indicate a health hazard, high counts provide a good indication of the efficiency of water disinfection and integrity of distribution systems. The aim of this study was to compare the PetrifimTM AC method to the pour plate technique for the testing of HPC in water samples.

Diagnostic challenges with accurate identification of isolates from food and environmental samples in South Africa.

Background: The 2017-2018 listeriosis outbreak in South Africa warranted testing for in food products and processing environments. Diagnostic tests are needed to accurately differentiate from other species.

Objective: The study assessed the performance of the commonly used tests in our setting to accurately identify .