Microbiological air quality of processing areas in a dairy plant as evaluated by the sedimentation technique and a one-stage air sampler

Abstract

The microbiological air quality at processing areas in a dairy plant was evaluated by using a one-stage air sampler, based on Andersen principles (impaction technique) and by culture settling plate technique, also known as sedimentation technique. Among these areas, milk reception, packaging, and pasteurization rooms were included. Rooms where cheese, yogurt, butter and "doce de leite"(Latin American typical treat made of concentrated milk and sugar) are made were also evaluated. For all processing areas, the numbers of mesophilic aerobic bacteria and yeast and molds recovered by air sampler were higher than 90 CFU·m-3 – the maximum value recommended by American Public Health Association (APHA). In four of the six processing areas, the microbial numbers were higher than APHA's standard (30 CFU.cm-2.week-1) according to culture settling plate technique. The results showed a difference (p<0.05) for the Staphylococcus aureus numbers (from <1.0 to 4.3 UFC·m-3) at processing areas. The numbers of microorganisms recovered by impaction technique were about 2 to 10 times higher than by sedimentation technique. The microorganism group determined at processing areas depended mainly on the technique. By the air sampler technique, it was observed the predominance of yeasts and molds and by sedimentation technique, of mesophilic aerobic bacteria. The increase of temperature at processing areas did not seem to affect the numbers of airborne microorganisms. On the other hand, the increase of air humidity showed a relation with the increase of microorganism numbers. The impaction technique should be chosen since it is better to recover airborne microorganisms, including pathogens.

Foi avaliada a microbiota do ar dos ambientes de recepção, embalagem e pasteurização de leite, produção de queijos, de iogurte e de doce de leite e manteiga em uma indústria de laticínios pelas técnicas de sedimentação e de impressão em ágar utilizando um amostrador de ar de um estágio baseado no princípio de Andersen. As contagens de microrganismos mesófilos aeróbios e de fungos filamentosos e leveduras pela técnica impressão em ágar ultrapassaram 90UFC·m-3 de ar, valor máximo recomendado pela APHA. Pela técnica de sedimentação, as contagens microbianas do ar de quatro ambientes também ultrapassaram 30UFC·cm-2·semana-1, conforme recomendação da APHA. Os ambientes diferiram (p<0,05) apenas para os números de Staphylococcus aureus. (<1,0 a 4,3 UFC.m-3). As contagens microbianas por impressão em ágar foram de 2 a 10 vezes maiores que as obtidas por sedimentação, evidenciando a maior capacidade da impressão em ágar em determinar microrganismos do ar, inclusive patógenos. Quanto à distribuição da microbiota do ar, houve a predominância de fungos filamentosos e leveduras pela técnica de sedimentação em ágar e de mesófilos aeróbios pela de impressão em ágar. O aumento da temperatura ambiente, ao contrário do aumento da umidade relativa do ar, não contribuiu para maiores contagens microbianas no ar.