Impact of the slaughter line contamination on the presence of Salmonella on broiler carcasses

AIMS: The aim of the study was to assess the impact of Salmonella present on the slaughter line before processing on broiler carcass contamination during processing. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three Belgian broiler slaughterhouses were each visited twice. Samples were taken from the slaughter line after the cleaning and the disinfection process and before slaughter of the first flock. During the slaughter of the first flock, feathers and neck skins were collected at various points of the slaughter process. Swab samples were also taken from the crates in which the birds were transported. In two slaughterhouses, the slaughter line was contaminated with Salmonella before the onset of slaughter, especially the shackles, conveyer belt and the plucking machine in the dirty zone. During slaughter, the carcasses of the first Salmonella-free flock became contaminated with the same strains as isolated previously from the slaughter line. CONCLUSION: Contamination of the slaughter line with Salmonella leads to carcass contamination. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Implementation of logistic slaughter is only successful when the cleaning and disinfection process completely eliminates the Salmonella contamination of the slaughter line. Only if this is achieved, will the slaughter of Salmonella-free flocks result in the absence of Salmonella on the carcasses after slaughter.     

Analysis of Salmonella enteritidis strains isolated from food-poisoning cases in Taiwan by pulsed field gel electrophoresis, plasmid profile and phage typing

AIMS: To establish the molecular typing data for Salmonella enteritidis due to its increasing role in Salmonella infections in Taiwan. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sixty-three Salm. enteritidis strains isolated from related and unrelated patients suffering from food-borne poisoning during 1991-97 were collected and subjected to pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), plasmid analysis and phage typing. For PFGE, XbaI, SpeI and NotI restriction enzymes were used for chromosomal DNA digestion. The results showed that, for these 63 Salmonella strains, 10 PFGE pattern combinations were found. Of these, pattern X3 S3 N3 was the major subtype, since 46 strains isolated from different locations at different times during 1991-97 showed this PFGE pattern. Plasmid analysis showed only three plasmid profiles and phage typing showed that most of the Salmonella strains were of the phage type PT4. CONCLUSION: Most of the Salm. enteritidis strains circulating in Taiwan are of very similar genetic types or are highly related and that strains of PFGE pattern X3 S3 N3 are the prevalent and recirculating strains of Salm. enteritidis which caused food-poisoning cases in Taiwan in 1991-97. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides information that in Salmonella infection, certain subtypes of Salm. enteritidis should be scrutinized.     

Prevalence of Salmonella enterica serovars and genovars from chicken carcasses in slaughterhouses in Spain

AIMS: To determine the prevalence of Salmonella enterica serovars in chicken carcasses in slaughterhouses in Spain and to examine genotypic relations among these serovars. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 336 chicken carcasses were collected from six slaughterhouses in Northwestern Spain. Salmonellae were isolated (ISO-6579-1993), serotyped, phage-typed, ribotyped and antibiotyped against 20 antibiotics. Salmonella strains were detected in 60 (17.9%) carcasses. Isolates belonged to nine different serotypes, with Salm. Enteritidis being the most common. Three strains (5%) were resistant to one antibiotic and 24 (40%) were multi-resistant (to more than one antibiotic). The most frequently encountered resistances were to sulphamides, fluoroquinolones and tetracycline. Ribotyping was able to differentiate isolates of the same serotype and phage type. CONCLUSIONS: The Salmonella serotypes and phage types detected are among those most frequently associated with human diseases in Spain. The large percentage of antimicrobial resistant strains is a matter for concern. A high genetic relationship between strains from different slaughterhouses was found. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study provides detailed information about Salmonella isolates from poultry in Spain. It emphasizes the importance of controlling this pathogen in poultry products, and suggests the need for more prudent use of antibiotics.     

Evaluation of four template preparation methods for polymerase chain reaction-based detection of Salmonella in ground beef and chicken

AIMS: To compare procedures for recovering template DNA from ground beef or chicken for polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection of Salmonella. METHODS AND RESULTS: The primer set of ST11 and ST15 was utilized to amplify a 429-bp product from Salmonella serotype Typhimurium. Boiling and three commercial kits were evaluated for extracting DNA from pure suspensions and artificially contaminated ground beef and chicken. The detection sensitivity of the PCR assay for pure cultures was independent of the template preparation method (P=0.946). Boiling and GeneReleaser failed to detect Salm. Typhimurium at 4 x 106 cfu g(-1) in ground chicken. PrepMan Ultra and the high pure PCR template preparation kit facilitated reliable and sensitive detection of Salm. Typhimurium in two types of food. The sensitivities were approx. 4 x 103 cfu g(-1). When spiked samples were enriched in peptone water for 6 h, an initial inoculum of 1 cfu g(-1) was detectable. CONCLUSIONS: Four template DNA preparation methods differed in performance with respect to the type of samples tested. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Template DNA for the PCR detection of pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella in meat and poultry, could be effectively obtained using a simple rapid method such as the commercially available PrepMan Ultra kit.     

Serotyping, PCR, phage-typing and antibiotic sensitivity testing of Salmonella serovars isolated from urban drinking water supply systems of Nepal

AIMS: To study the occurrence and diversity of Salmonella serovars in urban water supply systems of Nepal. METHODS AND RESULTS: Occurrence of Salmonella was detected in 42 out of 300 water samples by enrichment culture technique in selenite F broth followed by plating on Salmonella Shigella agar. A total of 54 isolates identified to genus level by standard tests were subsequently confirmed by serotyping, phage typing and PCR detection of virulence genes (inv A and spv C). The predominant serotype was Salmonella Typhimurium, followed by Salm. Typhi, Salm. Paratyphi A and Salmonella Enteritidis. Most of the Salm. Typhi isolates were E1 phage type followed by UVS4, A and UVS1. All isolates of Salm. Paratyphi A and Salm. Enteritidis were an untypable (UT) phage type. The majority of isolates were multi-drug resistant as revealed by Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion technique. Ceftriaxone resistant isolates of Salm. Enteritidis indicated the presence of one of the ESBL genes, blaSHV, whereas the genes blaTEM and blaCTX were absent. CONCLUSIONS: The microbiological quality of the urban water supply is poor and indicates possibility of fatal outbreaks of enteric fever and related infections in Nepal. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present study will be useful in water borne disease control and prevention strategy formulation in Nepal and in the global context.     

Prevalence and serotypes of Salmonella associated with goats at two Australian abattoirs

Aims:  This study was carried out to determine the prevalence and serotype of Salmonella in goats presented for slaughter.
Methods and Results:  A total of 121 goats were examined for the presence of Salmonella in matching rumen, faecal and carcass samples. Samples were analysed for the presence of Salmonella following the Australian Standard AS 1766.2.5-1991. Salmonella was isolated from 56 (46·3%) faecal samples, 55 (45·5%) rumen samples and 35 (28·9%) carcass samples. The dominant serotypes isolated were Salmonella serotype Saintpaul (31%), Salmonella serotype Typhimurium (13%) and Salmonella serotype Chester (11%).
Conclusions:  Salmonella was isolated from at least one of the three sample sites in 68% of animals. Carcase contamination with faeces, compared with rumen liquor, is a greater hazard for Salmonella contamination of goat carcases. Goat meat is a potential source of Salmonella serovars associated with human disease.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Goat carcases contaminated with Salmonella during slaughter could be a source of food-borne disease if consumed raw or inadequately cooked, or may be a source of cross-contamination to other foods.     

Enumeration of thermotolerant Campylobacter spp. from poultry carcasses at the end of the slaughter-line

AIM: To enumerate Campylobacter on poultry carcasses at the end of the slaughter-line, and investigate the extent to which Campylobacter from a positive flock were transmitted to other flocks during slaughter. METHODS AND RESULTS: The presence (in caeca) and the level (from carcasses) of Campylobacter were determined. The isolates were fingerprinted by amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). A total of three of 13 broiler flocks and three of four-layer flocks harboured caecal Campylobacter. Carcasses from the caeca-positive broiler flocks were Campylobacter positive with numbers ranging from 2.6 x 10(4) to 2.6 x 10(6) CFU per carcass. Two caeca-negative broiler flocks, slaughtered directly after the positive broiler flocks, had the first carcasses contaminated with Campylobacter, with numbers below 2 x 10(4) CFU per carcass of the same AFLP haplotypes as the preceding flock. Campylobacter was detected on carcasses from only one of the caeca-positive layer flocks in numbers below 2 x 10(4) CFU per carcass. No Campylobacter was detected on carcasses from a flock succeeding the positive-layer flocks. CONCLUSION: Carcasses from Campylobacter-positive broiler flocks were heavily contaminated with Campylobacter, and transmitted low levels of Campylobacter to carcasses from negative flocks, slaughtered directly after. Campylobacter-positive layer flocks had low numbers of Campylobacter on the carcasses. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The results indicate limited cross-contamination of Campylobacter between flocks at the slaughterhouse, reducing the advantage of logistic slaughter.     

A comparison between broiler chicken carcasses with and without visible faecal contamination during the slaughtering process on hazard identification of Salmonella spp

AIMS: A comparison of the prevalence of Salmonella in chicken carcasses with and without visible faecal contamination during commercial slaughter practice was made. The relationship between Enterobacteriaceae, coliform and Escherichia coli counts and Salmonella status was also evaluated to establish the likelihood of using these groups as 'index' organisms to predict the presence of pathogen. METHODS AND RESULTS: Samples were removed immediately after evisceration, after the inside-outside shower and after chilling from the processing line for microbiological analysis. Of the carcasses visibly uncontaminated with faeces after the evisceration step 20% harboured salmonellas and 20.8% of the visibly contaminated carcasses were positive for the pathogen. When E. coli, coliforms and Enterobacteriaceae were used as predictor variables the error rates ranged from 33.3 to 60% for both sample types. CONCLUSIONS: There was no indication that any of the groups of organisms analysed could predict the incidence of salmonellas on the samples studied. Positive results for the pathogen were obtained at every tested step of the slaughtering process regardless of whether or not faecal contamination was present. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The present study demonstrated that carcasses not visibly contaminated with faeces carried Salmonella as well as the visibly contaminated carcasses.     

Characterization of Salmonella virchow phage types by plasmid profile and IS200 distribution

The type strains of the 57 phage types of Salmonella virchow have been characterized by plasmid profile and by distribution of the insertion sequence IS 200 . Thirty-two strains carried plasmids and 21 profile types were identified; 17 strains were resistant to antimicrobial agents. In contrast only six of the type strains carried IS 200 elements and three patterns were identified. Within Salm. virchow phage type 31, five of 10 wild-type isolates carried plasmids and two plasmid profiles were identified; in contrast, an IS 200 element was identified in the genome of only one of these strains. It is concluded that for Salm. virchow , IS 200 is unlikely to significantly extend the degree of discrimination achieved by phage typing which may be supplemented when appropriate by plasmid profile typing.     

Molecular characterization of the diversity of Campylobacter spp. isolates collected from a poultry slaughterhouse: analysis of cross-contamination

Investigations of a free-range broiler flock during the rearing period and at the slaughterhouse by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of the flagellin (flaA) gene (flaA typing) have shown that poultry carcasses are contaminated by Campylobacter spp. strains which were previously present in the poultry faces. Moreover, the investigation of the previous and the following batches in the processing plant using flaA typing have shown that cross-contamination between batches coming from different flocks occurs and is also a risk factor for the presence of Campylobacter spp. on poultry carcasses.     

Public health investigations of Salmonella Enteritidis in catering raw shell eggs, 2002-2004

AIMS: In response to a dramatic change in the epidemiology of Salmonella Enteritidis in England and Wales thought to be associated with raw shell eggs, the Health Protection Agency initiated public health investigations to establish the incidence of Salmonella contamination and origin of eggs used by catering premises implicated in outbreaks of Salm. Enteritidis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Between October 2002 and November 2004, 16 971 eggs were sampled and Salmonella were recovered from 3.4%. Salmonella was isolated from 5.5% and 6.3% of Spanish and eggs of unknown origin, respectively, used in catering premises linked to outbreaks, a level significantly higher than that (1.1%) found in nonLion Quality UK eggs sampled. The small sample of UK Lion Quality eggs tested (reflecting their lack of use in premises visited) did not contain Salmonella. Several phage types of Salm. Enteritidis other than phage type 4 (PT 4) were identified with nonUK eggs. CONCLUSIONS: Eggs from Spain were implicated as a major source of infection. Eggs were contaminated more frequently with Salmonella when shells were dirty and/or cracked, and stored at above 8 degrees C. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The use of Spanish eggs by the catering sector has been identified as a consistent significant factor in many of the outbreaks caused by Salm. Enteritidis nonPT4 in England and Wales during 2002-2004. Advice to caterers and hospitals that raw shell eggs should not be used in food that will either not be cooked or only lightly cooked should be reinforced.     

Investigation of Salmonella contamination and disinfection in farm egg-packing plants

AIMS: As part of a field-based study of the distribution and persistence of Salmonella infection on commercial egg-laying farms, sampling was carried out on one or more occasions in egg-packing areas of 12 farms infected with Salm. Enteritidis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Salmonellas were isolated by cultural methods. Contamination was common, with Salmonella being found in 23.1% of floor swab samples, 30.8% of grading tables, 23.1% of conveyor belts or rollers and 23.8% of candlers. Four farms were sampled after cleaning and disinfection of packing plants had been carried out on the previous day, and residual contamination was found on 6.9% of samples from grading tables, 16.0% holding/sorting tables, 12.6% of conveyors or rollers, 16.7% of vacuum egg lifters, 21.4% of floor surfaces and 5.0% of egg store floor surfaces. Sterilized eggs passed through five farm packing plants showed a contamination rate of at least 16/5,948 (0.3%) egg passages. CONCLUSIONS: It is apparent that contamination in egg-packing plants may be a significant contributory factor to external contamination of shell eggs, and improved methods of cleaning and disinfecting egg-handling equipment are required. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The presence of Salmonella contamination in egg-packing plants presents a contamination hazard for eggs from Salmonella-free flocks. Samples from equipment in the packing plant could also be used for screening for detection of Salmonella in the throughout of the plant.     

Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) of Salmonella: strain differentiation and characterization of amplified sequences

Random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) was evaluated for its ability to differentiate Salmonella strains from various sources. Under defined conditions RAPD using a 10-mer primer (1254) produced a series of amplification products able to reproducibly distinguish strains representing 20 different serotypes of Salmonella. Primer 1254 also proved capable of discrimination between some but not all isolates of Salm. ser. Enteritidis and Salm. ser. Typhimurium, phage typing proving to be most discriminatory for the latter serotype. Cloning of fragments into a vector allowed sequencing and database searching for identification of fragments and an indication of criteria for primer template interaction in RAPD. Southern blotting using a digoxigenin-labelled probe allowed identification of related bands between RAPD profiles. These observations demonstrate the potential of rapid molecular typing by RAPD for the genomic typing of Salmonella strains.     

Potential sources of Campylobacter infection on chicken farms: contamination and control of broiler-harvesting equipment, vehicles and personnel

Aims: To test the efficacy of enhanced biosecurity measures on poultry farms for reducing environmental contamination with Campylobacter during partial depopulation of broiler flocks prior to normal slaughter age. The study has also evaluated the risk of infection from live‐bird transport crates that are routinely cleaned at the slaughterhouse, but may remain contaminated. Methods and Results: On‐farm sampling and Campylobacter isolation was undertaken to compare the prevalence of contamination on vehicles, equipment and catching personnel during farm visits that took place under normal or enhanced biosecurity. Campylobacters were found in almost all types of sample examined and enhanced biosecurity reduced the prevalence. However, the additional measures failed to prevent colonisation of the flocks. For transport crates, challenge trials involved exposure of broilers to commercially cleaned crates and genotyping of any campylobacters isolated. The birds were rapidly colonised with the same genotypes as those isolated from the cleaned crates. Conclusions: The enhanced biosecurity measures were insufficient to prevent flock colonisation, and the problem was exacerbated by inadequate cleaning of transport crates at the slaughterhouse. Significance and Impact of the Study: Current commercial practices in the United Kingdom facilitate the spread of campylobacters among broiler chicken flocks. Prevention of flock infection appears to require more stringent biosecurity than that studied here.     

Phenotypic and molecular typing of Salmonella strains reveals different contamination sources in two commercial pig slaughterhouses

This study aimed to define the origin of Salmonella contamination on swine carcasses and the distribution of Salmonella serotypes in two commercial slaughterhouses during normal activity. Salmonellae were isolated from carcasses, from colons and mesenteric lymph nodes of individual pigs, and from the slaughterhouse environment. All strains were serotyped; Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium and Salmonella enterica serotype Derby isolates were additionally typed beyond the serotype level by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and antibiotic resistance profiling (ARP); and a subset of 31 serotype Typhimurium strains were additionally phage typed. PFGE and ARP had the same discriminative possibility. Phage typing in combination with PFGE could give extra information for some strains. In one slaughterhouse, 21% of the carcasses were contaminated, reflecting a correlation with the delivery of infected pigs. Carcass contamination did not result only from infection of the corresponding pig; only 25% of the positive carcasses were contaminated with the same serotype or genotype found in the corresponding feces or mesenteric lymph nodes. In the other slaughterhouse, 70% of the carcasses were contaminated, and only in 4% was the same genotype or serotype detected as in the feces of the corresponding pigs. The other positive carcasses in both slaughterhouses were contaminated by genotypes present in the feces or lymph nodes of pigs slaughtered earlier that day or from dispersed sources in the environment. In slaughterhouses, complex contamination cycles may be present, resulting in the isolation of many different genotypes circulating in the environment due to the supply of positive animals and in the contamination of carcasses, probably through aerosols.     

Microarray analysis of antimicrobial resistance genes in Salmonella enterica from preharvest poultry environment

Aims:  To detect antimicrobial resistance genes in Salmonella isolates from turkey flocks using the microarray technology.
Methods and Results:  A 775 gene probe oligonucleotide microarray was used to detect antimicrobial resistance genes in 34 isolates. All tetracycline-resistant Salmonella harboured tet(A) , tet(C) or tet(R) , with the exception of one Salmonella serotype Heidelberg isolate. The sul1 gene was detected in 11 of 16 sulfisoxazole-resistant isolates. The aadA , aadA1 , aadA2 , strA or strB genes were found in aminoglycoside-resistant isolates of Salm. Heidelberg, Salmonella serotype Senftenberg and untypeable Salmonella . The prevalence of mobile genetic elements, such as class I integron and transposon genes, in drug-resistant Salmonella isolates suggested that these elements may contribute to the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes in the preharvest poultry environment. Hierarchical clustering analysis demonstrated a close relationship between drug-resistant phenotypes and the corresponding antimicrobial resistance gene profiles.
Conclusions:  Salmonella serotypes isolated from the poultry environment carry multiple genes that can render them resistant to several antimicrobials used in poultry and humans.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Multiple antimicrobial resistance genes in environmental Salmonella isolates could be identified efficiently by microarray analysis. Hierarchical clustering analysis of the data was also found to be a useful tool for analysing emerging patterns of drug resistance.     

Sources of Salmonella on broiler carcasses during transportation and processing: modes of contamination and methods of control

AIMS: The prevalence and types of salmonella in broiler chickens during transportation and during slaughter and dressing were studied. This was part of a comprehensive investigation of salmonellas in two UK poultry companies, which aimed to find the origins and mechanisms of salmonella contamination. METHODS AND RESULTS: Salmonellas were isolated using cultural methods. Serovars of Salmonella detected during rearing were usually also found in a small proportion of birds on the day of slaughter and on the carcasses at various points during processing. There was little evidence of salmonellas spreading to large numbers of carcasses during processing. Many serovars found in the feedmills or hatcheries were also detected in the birds during rearing and/or slaughter. Transport crates were contaminated with salmonellas after washing and disinfection. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of salmonellas fell in the two companies during this survey. A small number of serovars predominated in the processing plants of each company. These serovars originated from the feed mills. Reasons for transport crate contamination were: (1) inadequate cleaning, resulting in residual faecal soiling; (2) disinfectant concentration and temperature of disinfectant too low; (3) contaminated recycled flume water used to soak the crates. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Efforts to control salmonella infection in broilers need to concentrate on crate cleaning and disinfection and hygiene in the feed mills.     

Listeria monocytogenes in poultry and poultry products: epidemiological investigations in seven Danish abattoirs

Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 11/236 (4·7%) caecal samples from parent flocks, providing broilers to the abattoirs investigated. Caecal samples from 2078 broilers representing 90 randomly selected broiler flocks were negative for L. monocytogenes. A total of 3080 samples from seven abattoirs including poultry processing line samples, and final products were also examined for L. monocytogenes. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated in 0·3% to 18·7% of the samples collected in the different abattoirs. Epidemiological typing of 247 L. monocytogenes isolates, including serotyping, phage typing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and ribotyping revealed 62 different clones. Based upon typability and discriminatory power, DNA typing methods used were found equally suitable as epidemiological markers. Serotyping and phage typing were not found useful as epidemiological markers for poultry isolates of L. monocytogenes since only 120/247 (48·6%) isolates were typable by phage typing and 230/247 (93·1%) L. monocytogenes belonged to serotype 01 while 6/247 (2·4%) belonged to 04. The discovery of a few dominating clones in each abattoir might indicate an endemic occurrence of L. monocytogenes. It is concluded that L. monocytogenes in the broiler production is primarily localized to the abattoirs. The incidence of L. monocytogenes may be reduced by improving the hygiene.     

Conventional and molecular approaches to isolates of Salmonella hadar from sporadic and epidemic cases

In September 1994 an outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred in 437 people who had consumed lunch in the canteen of a factory in Central Italy. Salmonella sp. was isolated from stools of 99 patients and in 73 of them Salmonella hadar was identified. This is the first outbreak caused by this serotype described in Italy. In order to examine the genotypic basis of the epidemic strains, molecular typing was applied to sporadic strains isolated before and after the outbreak episode. For this purpose phage type, resistance to antibiotics, DNA plasmid profile and sites of insertion of the mobile element of IS200 were determined. The epidemic strains were genetically distinct from the non-epidemic isolates; they were shown to be phage type 26, harbouring four small plasmids, were resistant to nalidixic acid and showed a unique characteristic IS200 fingerprint. The typing methods used in this study allowed the identification and discrimination of the outbreak strains from related isolates. They can thus be considered as a tool for epidemiological purposes. In addition we should point out the emerging resistance to nalidixic acid, largely used in veterinary medicine, in Salm . hadar .     

Comparison of phenotypic and genotypic markers for characterization of an outbreak of Salmonella serotype Havana in captive raptors

AIMS: To establish a typing method for tracing the epidemic relationship of 16 strains of Salmonella serotype Havana isolated from captive raptors showing no symptomatology and residing in a wildlife hospital in Spain. METHODS AND RESULTS: Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, ribotyping, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) methodology were applied. Ten unrelated strains of serotype Havana were included as a control group to provide a basis of for the efficiency of the different markers used. All outbreak-related strains were resistant to nalidixic acid and streptomycin and showed the same ripotype, pulsotype and AFLP pattern. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first time that AFLP analysis has been tested with serotype Havana isolates and it has demonstrated to be the most useful epidemiological tool for discriminating between unrelated and outbreak-related strains of this serotype. The results obtained suggest that all the Salmonella serotype Havana isolates represented a common outbreak strain whose origin of contamination could not be established although it is thought that it was the poultry meat used for raptors'diet. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Our study suggests the importance of microbiological analysis of these products in order to prevent contamination and dissemination of Salmonellae in this kind of Hospital.