Abstract: Minimally processed, ready-to-eat (RTE) vegetables, are consumed raw so have to comply with microbiological requirements to ensure safety and avoid possible foodborne illnesses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of RTE vegetables: lettuce, spinach, carrot, cabbage with carrot, parsley, parsley curd and coriander that are sold in supermarkets in the city of Loja, Ecuador. A total of 128 samples from 3 production batch were analyzed for total aerobic count, total coliform and E. coli. The aerobic count obtained averaged 6,6 log10 CFU/g and ranged from 4,57 to 7,82 log10 CFU/g. The coliform counts a ranged from 0,48 to > 5,04 log10 MPN/g and in 11 samples >5,04 log10 MPN/g was observed. Generic E. coli was detected in 32 samples at levels less than 6,2 MPN/g. In our study, 50% and 98% of the samples exceeded the reference limits for aerobic and coliform counts, respectively. The results of this study indicate that RTE vegetables have, in some cases, the same microbial load as packaged vegetables that are produced without a disinfection process, and maybe potential vehicles for pathogen transmissions, which means the necessity of regulate the quality assurance of RTE vegetables.

Resumen: Los vegetales listos para el consumo o mínimamente procesados (VMP), son consumidos crudos de modo que deben cumplir con requerimientos microbiológicos para asegurar la seguridad y evitar en lo posible enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos. El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la calidad microbiológica de VMP: lechuga, espinaca, zanahoria, col con zanahoria, perejil liso, perejil crespo y culantro que se comercializan en supermercados de la ciudad de Loja, Ecuador. 128 muestras provenientes de tres lotes de producción se analizaron en cuanto a aerobios totales, coliformes totales y E. coli. Se obtuvo un conteo de aerobios promedio de 6,6 log10 UFC/g en un rango entre 4,57 y 7,82 log10 UFC/g. El conteo de coliformes estuvo en el rango desde 0,48 hasta > 5,04 log10 NMP/g y en 11 muestras se observó valores > 5,04 log10 NMP/g, además se detectó la presencia de E. coli genérica en 32 muestras en niveles menores que 6,2 NMP/g. En nuestro estudio, el 50% y 90% de las muestras excedió los límites de referencia para aerobios y coliformes totales, respectivamente. Los resultados de este estudio indican que VMP tienen, en algunos casos, la misma carga microbiana que los vegetales empaquetados que se producen sin ningún proceso de desinfección, pudiendo ser potenciales vehículos para transmisión de patógenos siendo necesario regular el aseguramiento de la calidad de los vegetales listos para su consumo.

Introduction: Campylobacter is an important agent of diarrhea in humans. In Ecuador, the information on Campylobacter is scarce and there are not antecedents about antimicrobial susceptibility. Objective: To describe Campylobacter prevalence in children with diarrhea and their behavior against five antimicrobials in vitro. Method: We studied 253 children with diarrhea aging 7 months to 9 years who consulted for diarrhea in two hospitals in the city of Loja. Fecal samples were cultured and identification by tests by phenotypic tests and multiplex PCR. Susceptibility to 5 antibiotics was determined by the disc-diffusion method. Results: Campylobacter was found in 16 (6.3%) children, being C. jejuni the most frequent one (5.1%), followed by C. coli (1.2%). All strains were susceptible to gentamicin and ampicillin/clavulanic acid, being found low resistance to ampicillin and erythromycin and high resistance to ciprofloxacin.

Resumen Introducción: Campylobacter es un importante agente de diarrea en el ser humano. En Ecuador, la información sobre Campylobacter es escasa y no existen antecedentes de susceptibilidad antimicrobiana. Objetivo: Describir la prevalencia de Campylobacter en niños con diarrea y su comportamiento in vitro frente a cinco antimicrobianos. Método: Se estudiaron 253 niños entre siete meses y 9 años de edad, que consultaron por diarrea en dos hospitales de la ciudad de Loja. Se realizó cultivo de muestras fecales e identificación por pruebas fenotípicas y por RPC múltiple. La susceptibilidad antimicrobiana fue determinada por el método de difusión en disco. Resultados: Campylobacter fue diagnosticado en 16 (6,3%) de las muestras, aislándose C. jejuni en 13 (5,1%) y C. coli en 3 (1,2%). Todas las cepas fueron susceptibles a gentamicina y ampicilina/ ácido clavulánico, con baja resistencia a ampicilina y eritromicina y alta resistencia a ciprofloxacina.

RESUMO: A ocorrência e resistência antimicrobiana de cepas de Campylobacter jejuni e C. coli isoladas de amostras fecais obtidas de cães, suínos, vacas e galinhas no sul do Equador foram determinadas. Das 250 amostras estudadas, 84 (33.6%) foram Campylobacter positivas, sendo C. jejuni mais frequente (78.6%) que C. coli (21.4%) com a exceção das amostras de suínos, das quais só fora isolada a espécie C. coli. Multirresistência foi encontrada em 10 cepas (11,9%), quatro C. jejuni e 6 C. coli, sempre associada à resistência ao ácido nalidíxico e à ciprofloxacina. Todas as cepas resistentes à ampicilina foram susceptíveis para amoxicilina-ácido clavulánico demonstrando que foram produtoras de beta-lactamase. Porém, uma cepa de C. jejuni permaneceu sendo resistente, apresentando, também, resistência à gentamicina. Este é um padrão de multirresistência incomum em Campylobacter e pode refletir diferentes mecanismos de resistência.

ABSTRACT: Occurrence and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli strains isolated from fecal samples of dogs, pigs, cows and hens in southern Ecuador were studied. Of the 250 samples studied, 84 (33.6%) were Campylobacter positive, with C. jejuni being more frequent (78.6%) than C. coli (21.4%), with the exception of porcine samples, from which C. coli was the only species isolated. Multidrug resistance was reported in 10 Campylobacter strains (11.9%), four C. jejuni and six C. coli, and was always associated with nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin resistance. All of the amoxicillin-resistant strains were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and were therefore beta-lactamase producers. However, one strain of C. jejuni remained resistant with additional resistance to gentamycin. This is an uncommon resistance pattern in Campylobacter and could reflect different resistance mechanisms.

ABSTRACT The prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli strains in healthy, well-nourished children of middle socioeconomic level from Southern Ecuador were determined. Among the 127 children studied, 17 (13.4%) harbored Campylobacter sp. corresponding to C. jejuni (7.1%) and C. coli (6.3%) with a higher concentration of C. jejuni among boys (8.6%) and C. coli (8.8%) among girls. C. jejuni showed high resistance to nalidixic acid and ciprofloxacin (77.8%), but susceptibility to all other antimicrobials tested. C. coli strains showed resistance to more antibiotics than C. jejuni strains including resistance to nalidixic acid (75%), ciprofloxacin (75%), erythromycin (12.5%) and ampicillin (28.6), but susceptible to gentamicin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid.