S11 - Symposium on Enterobacter sakazakii

Macleod BC
Sponsored by: ILSI N.A.
Organizers: Catherine Nnoka
Convenors: Marguerite A. Neill, Karl E. Olson, and Don L. Zink

8:30 Clinical and Epidemiological Significance of E. sakazakii — Christopher Braden, CDC, Atlanta, GA, USA

9:00 Survival and Growth of E. Sakazakii in Dry and Reconstituted Infant Formula and Cereal — Larry Beuchat, University of Georgia, Griffin, GA, USA

9:30 Mouse Models to Assess E. Sakazakii Virulence and Pathogenicity — Mary Alice Smith, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA

10:00 Break

10:30 Non-primate Animal Models to Assess E. sakazakii Virulence and Pathogenicity — Jeffrey Farber, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada

11:00 Current Approaches to Investigating Cases of E. sakazakii — John Guzewich, FDA-CFSAN, College Park, MD, USA

Abstract
Enterobacter sakazakii is an emerging pathogen notable for its severe morbidity and mortality in human infections. It has caused meningitis in infants and bacteremias in adults and these infections have been notable for very high fatality rates despite treatment. In a few outbreaks in infants, powdered infant formula has been identified as a vehicle of transmission for this pathogen both in the United States and internationally. Overall however, relatively little is known about the clinical epidemiology of human infection with E. sakazakii, its environmental niche and its presence and survival in infant formula and foods. This symposium will provide the most current information on the epidemiology and clinical significance of E. sakazakii as a human pathogen. The design of the current US Food and Drug Administration study to investigate clinical cases of E. sakazakii infection will be discussed along with its strengths, limitations and preliminary data. The survival and persistence of this pathogen in powdered infant formulas and cereals will be described. Studies of the pathogenicity of E. sakazakii in murine and other non-primate animal models will be presented. A perspective on industry methods to ensure the safety and integrity of powdered infant formula will be presented. These talks will aim to advance our understanding of the pathogenicity of E. sakazakii and the ways to decrease transmission of this emerging pathogen.