Enterococcus in retail premises

Summary

Recent investigations into the microbiological quality of the red meat production system identified that the microbiological indicators of hygiene and imminent spoilage were higher at the retail level than on carcases and trim at abattoirs.
Of particular note was an increase in antimicrobial resistant - AMR - Enterococcus isolates and an associated decrease in the variability of Enterococcus species present at the retail level.
The reasons for the decrease in species variation or the increase in AMR from abattoir carcases to retail meat are unknown.
In order to determine if aspects of the retail chain such as retail staff, processing equipment or the meat itself contribute to these findings a study was conducted to evaluate the genotypic relatedness of Enterococcus  isolated from a retail butchery durig one day of retail trade.
A total of 180 samples comprising 50 product and 130 environmental samples were collected during a single trading day at a large retail butchery.
Enteroccus sp. were isolated from 75 (41.7%) samples collected with 33 (66%) product samples and 42 (32.3%) environmental samples yielding isolates.
34 of the 75 positive samples had quantifiable numbers of Enterococcus sp.
Product samples generated 10 of the 34 quantifiable numbers with counts ranging from 1.00 to 2.58 log10CFU/cm.
The counts of Enterococcus sp. in environmental samples were, on average, higher than product samples and ranged from 1.30 to 4.67 log10CFU/cm.
Counts from hands and knives were generally higher and occurred at greater frequency than surface samples.
Enterococcus faecalis was most frequently recovered; accounting for almost 60% of isolates. E. hirae (8.7%) and E.durans (4.9%) present at lower levels.
Of the 20 isolates from 16 postive beef carcasses or beef mince samples 95% were E.faecalis.
In contrast, of the 23 isolates from 17 positive lamb carcases or diced lamb samples but not from lamb carcases despite all remaining Enterococcus species identified in this study being present on lamb carcases.