Pathogen killing pathogen: antimicrobial substance from Acinetobacter active against foodborne pathogens.

Introduction: Antimicrobial substances (AMS) produced by bacteria may reduce or prevent the growth of pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms in food. In this study, 16 isolates of Acinetobacter baumannii/calcoaceticus (ABC) complex, previously obtained from reconstituted infant milk formula (IMF) samples and the preparation and distribution utensils from the nursery of a public hospital, were used to screen for AMS production.

Methodology: Antimicrobial substance production and spectrum of activity assays were performed by agar-spot assay.

Presence of the cfxA gene in Bacteroides distasonis.

In this study we investigated the presence of the cfxA gene (encoding a class A beta-lactamase) in 73 strains of the Bacteroides fragilis group belonging to the species B. distasonis (34), B. vulgatus (14), B.