• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.230-237
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• 2020

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is known as a bacterium that can cause skin infections, respiratory system infections, and sinusitis; however, it can exist as a normal flora rather than a pathogen. Recently, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) infections have emerged in the community as a new variant of community-associated (CA)-MRSA. In the present study, S. aureus and MRSA were isolated and cultured by collecting samples from facilities and environments where students and educational personnel have multiple contacts on university campuses; specifically, the nostrils and hands of college students were tested from July to September of 2019. The molecular properties of the isolated MRSA were analyzed, and the one MRSA strain was isolated from the university campuses. One MRSA that was isolated and cultured on campus was the mec complex group A and staphylococcal cassette chromosome (SCC) mec type II, which is a characteristic of healthcare-associated (HA)-MRSA, and SCCmec type V, which is a characteristic of CA-MRSA. This result was similar to other studies wherein the SCCmec type II was detected in SCCmec typing analysis in CA-MRSA. To confirm whether there is a new variant of CA-MRSA in the Republic of Korea, additional follow-up studies on the analysis of virulence factors of MRSA are needed by additionally separating CA-MRSA from the body parts of university students and educational personnel.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.356-365
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• 2012

There have been growing concerns among people about food safety due to insufficient information on foodborne pathogens. In this study, we developed a risk priority of 15 foodborne pathogens. For the priority determination we collected risk profile criteria information from CODEX Alimentarius Commission and developed countries. The basis for criteria we selected from information of surveillance were frequency and severity of disease, frequency of consumption and probability of cross-contamination. We also considered foodborne pathogens which have been managed in developed countries though those pathogens are not currently managed appropriately in Korea. Priorities were divided into three groups following these consideration. The first priority group includes Norovirus, pathogenic E. coli, Salmonella spp, Clostridium botulinum and Listeria monocytogenes. The second priority group includes Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Stapylococcus aureus, Campylobacter jejuni and Bacillus cereus, and the third priority group includes Clostridium perfringens, Yersinia enterocolitica, Shigella spp, Cronobacter sakazakii and Hepatitis A virus. Our results could be applied to prevent foodborne illness from fresh produce.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.71-82
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• 2013

Objectives: This study was performed in order to investigate hand hygiene practices among food-service businesses employees based on the awareness of hand-washing and load of indicator bacteria on their hands. It focused on the comparison of full-time and part-time workers in food-service workplaces. Methods: A direct-interview questionnaire survey and microbiological analysis were carried out with sixty workers each. Samples for microbiological analysis were collected through a modified glove-juice method from the hands of the food-service workers and were analyzed for aerobic plate count, total coliform, fecal coliform, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella spp. Microbiological analysis was done according to the Food Code of Korea. Results: Significant differences (p<0.01) were found in the survey between the full-time and part-time workers in hand-washing frequency, use of hand-washing agents, and hand-drying methods. More full-time workers responded to washing their hands after preparing food, after visiting outside, after handling raw materials, and before putting on gloves/when changing gloves than did part-time workers (p<0.05). No remarkable difference was found in bacterial load on the hands except in the aerobic plate count between the two groups. The detection of E. coli, S. aureus, and Salmonella spp. on the hands of some food-service workers in both groups revealed poor hand hygiene practices. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that there is a need for training programs in order to improve hand hygiene practices and strict hand hygiene compliance by food-service workers.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.215-223
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• 2005

The bacteria on the surface of slaughtered meat was monitored to investigate the relationships between microbiological quality and sanitation management in slaughter process of cattle and pig. It was conducted to evaluate the microbiological quality on the surface of slaughtered beef and pork in Seoul from January to December 2004. Two hundred and thirty three beef and 233 pork carcasses were surveyed on generic E coli counts and standard plate count for microbiological quality and Salmonella spp, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and E coli O157: H7 as pathogenic microorganisms. The prevalence of the excellent or good grade $(10^4\;CFU/cm^2)$ in beef and pork carcasses were $100\%\; and\;99.2\%$, respectively. The frequency of beef carcasses with less than $10^2\;CFU/cm^2$ of generic I coli counts was $100\%$, while that of pork carcasses was $99.6\%$. Of 233 beef carcasses, $1(0.42\%)$ was contaminated with L monocytogenes and $6(2.58\%)$ with C perfringens. Of 233 pork carcasses, $11(4.72\%),\;2(0.86\%),\;and\;2(0.86\%)$ were contaminated with L monocytogenes, C perfringens, and S aureus, respectively, Salmonella spp and E coli O157:H7 were not detected with all of the beef and pork carcasses. In conclusion, this study emphasized the Importance of relationship between microbiological quality and sanitation management in slaughter process of cattle and pig, in abattoirs.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.280-294
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• 2001

Despite to the reality that the outbreaks from flood poisoning in Korea have been continuously increasing in the last two decades, it was very much neglected even in the public health field in Korea. Food poisoning outbreaks resulted in many cases not only in the damage of health but also in the death of many lives. However, this problem can be effectively solved by effects through health education activities, but not solely by the legal measures. This study was carried out to provide information that can be used in planning health education programs and proposing new rules to prevent any possible outbreaks from flood poisoning. The main problems contributing to flood poisoning outbreaks in an institutional setting or school catering and at home were reviewed and analyzed through the epidemiological investigations and articles related to flood poisoning in the last a decade (1991 ∼ 2000). Accordingly, the data presented in this study are sufficient to show and prove the significant trends in food poisoning accidents in Korea. The major findings investigated in this study are as follows. The frequency of food poisoning accidents as well as the number of victims have continuously increased in Korea. The number of victims per food poisoning accident is also increased from 20 persons in 1990 to 69.8 persons in 2000. Therefore, we should realize that the group poisoning outbreaks occur more frequently and the size of group poisoning accidents is getting larger. Among four seasons, the food poisoning accidents occurred more frequently in the summer (May ∼September) until 1997, However, after 1997, the food poisoning accidents occurred evenly in three seasons except the winter. The most important bacteria that cause food poisoning in Korea were Salmonella spp., Vibrio spp. and Staphylococcus aureus. They occupied 85∼90% of the rates of accidents and the number of victims.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.299-304
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• 2014

The dose-response models are important for the quantitative microbiological risk assessment (QMRA) because they would enable prediction of infection risk to humans from foodborne pathogens. In this study, we performed a comprehensive literature review and meta-analysis to better quantify this association. The meta-analysis applied a final selection of 193 published papers for total 43 species foodborne disease pathogens (bacteria 26, virus 9, and parasite 8 species) which were identified and classified based on the dose-response models related to QMRA studies from PubMed, ScienceDirect database and internet websites during 1980-2012. The main search keywords used the combination "food", "foodborne disease pathogen", "dose-response model", and "quantitative microbiological risk assessment". The appropriate dose-response models for Campylobacter jejuni, pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 (EHEC / EPEC / ETEC), Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio cholera, Rota virus, and Cryptosporidium pavum were beta-poisson (${\alpha}=0.15$, ${\beta}=7.59$, fi = 0.72), beta-poisson (${\alpha}=0.49$, ${\beta}=1.81{\times}10^5$, fi = 0.67) / beta-poisson (${\alpha}=0.22$, ${\beta}=8.70{\times}10^3$, fi = 0.40) / beta-poisson (${\alpha}=0.18$, ${\beta}=8.60{\times}10^7$, fi = 0.60), exponential (r=$1.18{\times}10^{-10}$, fi = 0.14), beta-poisson (${\alpha}=0.11$, ${\beta}=6,097$, fi = 0.09), beta-poisson (${\alpha}=0.21$, ${\beta}=1,120$, fi = 0.15), exponential ($r=7.64{\times}10^{-8}$, fi = 1.00), betapoisson (${\alpha}=0.17$, ${\beta}=1.18{\times}10^5$, fi = 1.00), beta-poisson (${\alpha}=0.25$, ${\beta}=16.2$, fi = 0.57), exponential ($r=1.73{\times}10{-2}$, fi = 1.00), and exponential ($r=1.73{\times}10^{-2}$, fi = 0.17), respectively. Therefore, these results provide the preliminary data necessary for the development of foodborne pathogens QMRA.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.15 no.6 s.73
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• pp.941-947
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• 2005

The contamination frequency of major foodborne pathogenic bacteria was investigated from 213 seafood samples including sliced raw fish and shellfish in Busan and CyeongNam province area. Tested microorganisms were Salmonella spp. Staphyloroccus aureus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Bncillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes and Campylobacter jejuni. The frequency of isolated microorganisms was V. parahaemolyticus (30.5%), B. cereus (9.9%), S. aureus (3.8%) and other pathogenic bacteria (1.4%). from July to October, total isolation rates were greater than 50% and V. parahaemolyticus was dominant among the microorganisms isolated. The bacteria isolation rate (49.2%) in raw seafoods including shellfishes was higher than one (28.9%) in sliced raw fish. V. parahaemelyticus isolates were resistant to ampicillin (96.9%), amikacin (29.2%) and tetracycline (27.7%), and B. cereus isolates were resistant to ampicillin (100%), Penicillin G (100%), rifampicin (71.4%) and tetracycline (14.3%). The growth of V. parahaemolyticus and B. rereus was greatly inhibited below $10^{\circ}C$, but increased at ambient temperature. Washing seafood with tap water showed to reduce total count of remaining V. parahaemolyticus. Thus temperature control under $10^{\circ}C$, sufficient washing and prompt eating appeared to reduce the risk of food poisoning by these bacteria in seafoods.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.137-149
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• 2005

Objectives and Methods: This study was performed to investigate the etiologic bacterial, viral and protozoal organisms for the diarrhea from hospitals in Chungnam area from January to December in 2004. Total of 787 fecal samples were collected and examined. Results and Conclusions: In test for enteropathogenic bacteria, total of 79 cases out of 787 samples from hospitals showed positive isolation. Among 79 positive samples, 27 cases were confirmed as Salmonella spp.. 20 cases as pathogenic E. coli, 18 cases as Clostridium perfringens, 6 cases as Staphylococcus aureus, 4 cases as Shigella spp. and 4 cases as Vibrio parahaemolyticus. In test for enteropathogenic virus, 190 cases out of 787 samples from hospitals showed positive reaction. Among 190 samples, 115 cases were confirmed as rotavirus, 55 cases as norovirus, 5 case as astrovirus, 4 case as rotavirus & norovirus, 3 cases as adenovirus, 2 case as rotavirus & astrovirus. In test for enteropathogenic protozoa, 6 cases out of 787 samples from hospitals showed positive result. Among 6 samples, 5 cases were confirmed as Entamoeba histolytica and 1 cases as Giardia lamblia. When we classified the positive results by the age of the patients, the highest isolation rate was noted in a group of age under 10 and over 60 for bacterial, viral and protozoal pathogens. Especially, patient below age of 5 showed high positive rate. When we classified the positive results by the time, pageathogenic bacteria were isolated throughout the year, and the highest frequency was noted in August. On the other hand, pathogenic viruses were detected more frequently during the colder season from December to April. Antimicrobial susceptibility test for the isolated bacteria resulted as follows; Salmonella strains showed high drug resistance rates against ampicillin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, nalidixic acid, ticarcillin. Shigella strains showed high drug resistance rates against ampicillin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, ampicillin/sulbactam, ticarcillin. Pathogenic E. coli strains showed high drug resistance rates against ampicillin, cephalothin, gentamicin, tetracycline, nalidixic acid, ampicillin/sulbactam, ticarcillin.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.223-230
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• 2012

This study was carried out to investigate the heavy metal and microbiological hazards on by-products (liver, omasum, small intestines) of cattle. From April to October in 2011, one hundred and twenty samples were equally collected from slaughterhouse and meat by-product markets in Incheon city. The total bacteria counts and E. coli count were applied to assess the microbiological quality. Food borne bacteria including Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and E. coli O157:H7 were also determined. The results were obtained as follows: The undesirable grade (more than $10^5\;CFU/cm^2$) was detected in the by-product from 18.3% (slaughterhouse) and 23.3% (by-product markets). The frequency of generic E. coli (more than $10^2\;CFU/cm^2$) from the slaughterhouse was 20.0%, whereas that of the meat by-product markets was 26.7%. Of the samples from slaughterhouse, 3 (5.0%), 5 (8.3%), and 12 (20.0%) samples were contaminated with Salmonella spp, S. aureus, and C. perfringens, respectively. S. aureus and C. perfringens were also detected in 6 (10.0%) and 25 (41.7%) samples in the meat by-product markets, respectively. Nine of 11 S. aureus isolates harbored toxin gene. However, the cpe gene of C. perfringens was not detected among the 37 isolates. The detection rate was higher in August than in February, April and June. The levels of Cd and Pb in all the samples tended to be low (<0.2 mg/kg). This preliminary data could be used for legislation on the regulation and control of microorganism and heavy metal in by-products of cattle.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.186-192
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• 2007

This study was conducted to survey the hygienic status of chicken meats on the microbial levels, which were collected from poultry processing plants located in the local provinces in nationwide including the JeJu island (n=15) in 1997. In particular, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter jejuni, and Listeria monocytogenes, which were retarded as one of the most important entero-pathogens relating to food home illness from poultry, were investigated on their isolation frequency including the other pathogens related on the food-borne illness. A total of 115 processed chickens were submitted on the present study. In general, the bacterial contamination frequency showed more or less lower $(10{\sim}100 cells)$ than those of sold on the retail and super markets and department stores because of lacking of cross-contamination incidences, depending on the total cells, Coliforms and Staphylococcal cells count. While, Salmonella species, Campylobacter jejuni, Listeria monocytogenes, and coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus isolation frequency of chicken meats from slaughter houses were 58.3%, 37.4%, 43.5%, and 30.4%, in order. But the present microbial isolation data were a little lower levels than those of sold on the retail and super markets and famous department stores in Seoul and GyeongGi province at the same period. It seemed that the cross-contamination problems (including the human, environmental and instrumental factors) during the marketing stage (after the last processing procedure; rinsing step) had the major roles on the increasing of the microbial contamination frequency on the chicken meats after the slaughter houses.