Population snapshot of emergent Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 19A in the United States, 2005.

Background: Serotype 19A invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) increased annually in the United States after the introduction of the 7-valent conjugate vaccine (PCV7). To understand this increase, we characterized serotype 19A isolates recovered during 2005.

Methods: IPD cases during 1998-2005 were identified through population-based surveillance.

Treatments using hot water instead of lactic acid reduce levels of aerobic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae and reduce the prevalence of Escherichia coil O157:H7 on preevisceration beef carcasses.

Lactic acid has become the most commonly used organic acid for treatment of postevisceration beef carcasses. Many processors have also implemented 2% lactic acid washes on preevisceration carcasses. We previously demonstrated that hot water washing and steam vacuuming are effective carcass interventions.

Methods for recovering Escherichia coli O157:H7 from cattle fecal, hide, and carcass samples: sensitivity and improvements.

The Meats Research Unit (MRU) methods, developed by MRU scientists of the U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, have been used to study the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle carcass, hide, and fecal samples.

Characterization of O157:H7 and other Escherichia coli isolates recovered from cattle hides, feces, and carcasses.

In a previous study, the seasonal prevalence was reported for stx+ Escherichia coli O157:H7 in feces and on hides and carcasses of cattle at processing. Overall, 1,697 O157:H7 isolates have now been characterized for the incidence of (i) eae(O157), hlyA, stx1, and stx2 in the recovered isolates and (ii) presumptive rough and presumptive nonmotile isolates. Seven O157:H7 isolates (0.

Seasonal prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, including O157:H7 and non-O157 serotypes, and Salmonella in commercial beef processing plants.

The seasonal prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella, non-O157 E. coli (STEC), and stx-harboring cells was monitored at three Midwestern fed-beef processing plants. Overall, E.

Development of methods for the recovery of Escherichia coil O157:H7 and Salmonella from beef carcass sponge samples and bovine fecal and hide samples.

Culture methods were developed for the concurrent recovery of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella from bovine carcass, hide, and fecal samples. Several enrichment conditions were tested for the overall growth of pure cultures; tryptic soy broth for 2 h at 25 degrees C and then for 6 h at 42 degrees C was the protocol selected for use. Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) was incorporated for sensitivity and selectivity, along with a post-IMS enrichment for the recovery of Salmonella as recommended by the manufacturer.

Prevalence and characterization of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli on carcasses in commercial beef cattle processing plants.

Beef carcass sponge samples collected from July to August 1999 at four large processing plants in the United States were surveyed for the presence of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Twenty-eight (93%) of 30 single-source lots surveyed included at least one sample containing non-O157 STEC. Of 334 carcasses sampled prior to evisceration, 180 (54%) were found to harbor non-O157 STEC.

Fate of field-isolated Escherichia coli O157 in ground beef at different storage temperatures.

The survival of six Escherichia coli O157 strains, including five strains recently isolated from beef carcasses and strain ATCC 43895, was evaluated at 0, 1, 7, and 14 days in ground beef held at -20, 1, 4, and 7 degrees C. Only small losses in cell numbers occurred at -20 and 1 degree C; in general, cell numbers decreased during the first day of storage and then remained unchanged through day 14. At -20 degrees C, statistically significant reductions in cell numbers were observed only for strains 55AC1 and 299AB3 due to greater losses in the first day.