Purpose: The Hygiena MicroSnap Surface Express system allows collection, detection and enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae from surfaces in the same working shift.
Methods: MicroSnap Surface Express is an all-in-one device containing a surface swab and ready-to-use patented media. Upon sample collection, the entire device is incubated from 2 to 6 h to detect as low as < 10 CFU/swab. The device is then activated. The reagent bathes the growing sample and light is produced proportionally to the level of bacteria present (CFU). The system is self-sterilizing; after activation the device and bacteria collected are rendered non-viable. In this study, Salmonella enterica ATCC 13076 and Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 were grown overnight and diluted in diluent, inoculated onto the swab and incubated at 37°C for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 hours. The devices were activated at each time point and measured in Hygiena SystemSURE Plus and EnSURE luminometers. Reference counts were run on traditional pour plates and read at 24 h.
Results: S. enterica and E. coli started to be detected in 2 h with confirmed detection in both luminometers in 4 h. The RLUs S/N which uses the non-inoculated background as baseline were as follows: for E. coli and S. enterica the S/N at each time were as follows 1 hour (1 and 1), 2 hours (2 and 4) and 3 hours (9 and 30).
Significance: This rapid method will allow microbiological cleanliness to be run by more food manufacturers in-house allowing better surveillance and control of surface borne cross-contaminating pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae.