Stress resistance, detection and disinfection of Cronobacter spp. in dairy products: A review

Cronobacter is a group of opportunistic pathogen responsible for necrotizing enterocolitis, meningitis and septicaemia especially to infant and neonate, with high lethality ranging in 40%-80%. Some of them are able to survive in infant milk formula and still possesses capability of pathogenicity and virulence, biofilm formation, and high resistance to elevated osmotic pressure, low pH, heat, oxidation and desiccation. The genus Cronobacter consists of a diverse group of Gram-negative bacteria and comprises seven species: C. sakazakii, C. turicensis, C. malonaticus, C. universails, C. muytjensii, C. condiment and C. dublinensis with the three subspecies dublinensis, lausannensis and lactatidi. Sub-lethal treatments on Cronobacter strains including heat shock, acid shock, ethanol shock and desiccation would enhance its tolerance to adverse environments. Here, we discuss the stress resistance, rapid detection and disinfection methods of Cronobacter spp. in recent literature.