Evaluation of three commercially available real-time PCR based systems for detection of Cronobacter species.

In the last few years, various PCR based methods have been developed that enable detection of Cronobacter spp. to the genus and species level. Moreover, several real-time PCR based systems for detection of Cronobacter spp. are available, however, comparative evaluation studies are not available. The current study represents a comparative evaluation of three commercial diagnostic systems, namely the BAX® System PCR Assay Enterobacter sakazakii (DuPont, Qualicon, Wilmington, USA), the Assurance GDS™ Enterobacter sakazakii (BioControl, Bellvue, USA) and the foodproof® Enterobacter sakazakii Detection Kit (Biotecon Diagnostics, Potsdam, Germany) for the rapid identification of Cronobacter spp. Twenty-one target and non-target strains were included in the study and results were compared for specificity and convenience in performance. A specificity of 100% was observed for two of the three real time PCR systems tested, namely the Assurance GDS™ Enterobacter sakazakii and the foodproof® Enterobacter sakazakii Detection Kit for pure cultures as well as artificially contaminated powdered infant formula (PIF) samples.