Data for: Use of biochemical miniaturized galleries, rRNA based lateral flow assay and Real Time PCR for Cronobacter spp. confirmation

Identification of Cronobacter represent a major challenge for laboratories testing powdered infant formula (PIF). In the present study, two biochemical galleries and three molecular methods have been applied to confirm 276 Cronobacter spp. and non-Cronobacter isolates from different sources. Using the latest database of API 20 E and ID 32 E biochemical miniaturized kits, 53% and 78% of the isolates were identified respectively. From the available results, total accuracy for Cronobacter detection was in 97.3% (API 20 E) and 99.1% (ID 32 E). All three molecular methods based on rRNA based lateral flow, Real Time PCR with hybridization probe and with hydrolysis probe produced an accuracy for Cronobacter spp. confirmation of more than 99%. A pilot concept trial using Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) correctly identified 58 out of 67 isolates (86.5%) in DNA mixtures. These results indicate that the commercially available approaches ID 32 E, rRNA based lateral flow and Real Time PCR are all suitable for Cronobacter confirmation at genus level. NGS may provide an alternative in identification of Cronobacter species in complex mixtures, provided that the in sequence database will be improved