Presence of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 in ground beef and ground baby beefmeat

A total of 114 beef and baby beef samples were examined. The samples includ ed ground baby beef, mixed ground baby beef and pork, and chopped and shape d meat. The samples were analyzed from 30 different grocery stores in Zagre b, Croatia. The object of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Esch erichia coli O157:H7 in the samples that can enhance the potential risk of outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The results in all tested samples of E. coli O157:H7 were negative. A single sample wa s positive in a latex agglutination test using antiserum to O157:H7. It was identified as Proteus vulgaris at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, France. Th is result correlates positively with cross-contamination with Yersinia ente rocolitica 09, Brucella abortus, Salmonella type N, and Pseudomonas maltoph ila.