TY - JOUR
T1 - Generic Escherichia coli contamination of spinach at the preharvest stage
T2 - Effects of farm management and environmental factors
AU - Park, Sangshin
AU - Navratil, Sarah
AU - Gregory, Ashley
AU - Bauer, Arin
AU - Srinath, Indumathi
AU - Jun, Mikyoung
AU - Szonyi, Barbara
AU - Nightingale, Kendra
AU - Anciso, Juan
AU - Ivanek, Renata
PY - 2013/7
Y1 - 2013/7
N2 - The objective of this study was to determine the effects of farm management and environmental factors on preharvest spinach contamination with generic escherichia coli as an indicator of fecal contamination. a repeated cross-sectional study was conducted by visiting spinach farms up to four times per growing season over a period of 2 years (2010 to 2011). spinach samples (n=955) were collected from 12 spinach farms in colorado and texas as representative states of the western and southwestern united states, respectively. during each farm visit, farmers were surveyed about farm-related management and environmental factors using a questionnaire. associations between the prevalence of generic e. coli in spinach and farm-related factors were assessed by using a multivariable logistic regression model including random effects for farm and farm visit. overall, 6.6% of spinach samples were positive for generic e. coli. significant risk factors for spinach contamination with generic e. coli were the proximity (within 10 miles) of a poultry farm, the use of pond water for irrigation, a>66-day period since the planting of spinach, farming on fields previously used for grazing, the production of hay before spinach planting, and the farm location in the southwestern united states. contamination with generic e. coli was significantly reduced with an irrigation lapse time of>5 days as well as by several factors related to field workers, including the use of portable toilets, training to use portable toilets, and the use of hand-washing stations. to our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between field workers' personal hygiene and produce contamination with generic e. coli at the preharvest level. collectively, our findings support that practice of good personal hygiene and other good farm management practices may reduce produce contamination with generic e. coli at the preharvest level.
AB - The objective of this study was to determine the effects of farm management and environmental factors on preharvest spinach contamination with generic escherichia coli as an indicator of fecal contamination. a repeated cross-sectional study was conducted by visiting spinach farms up to four times per growing season over a period of 2 years (2010 to 2011). spinach samples (n=955) were collected from 12 spinach farms in colorado and texas as representative states of the western and southwestern united states, respectively. during each farm visit, farmers were surveyed about farm-related management and environmental factors using a questionnaire. associations between the prevalence of generic e. coli in spinach and farm-related factors were assessed by using a multivariable logistic regression model including random effects for farm and farm visit. overall, 6.6% of spinach samples were positive for generic e. coli. significant risk factors for spinach contamination with generic e. coli were the proximity (within 10 miles) of a poultry farm, the use of pond water for irrigation, a>66-day period since the planting of spinach, farming on fields previously used for grazing, the production of hay before spinach planting, and the farm location in the southwestern united states. contamination with generic e. coli was significantly reduced with an irrigation lapse time of>5 days as well as by several factors related to field workers, including the use of portable toilets, training to use portable toilets, and the use of hand-washing stations. to our knowledge, this is the first report of an association between field workers' personal hygiene and produce contamination with generic e. coli at the preharvest level. collectively, our findings support that practice of good personal hygiene and other good farm management practices may reduce produce contamination with generic e. coli at the preharvest level.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84879808079&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1128/AEM.00474-13
DO - 10.1128/AEM.00474-13
M3 - Article
C2 - 23666336
AN - SCOPUS:84879808079
SN - 0099-2240
VL - 79
SP - 4347
EP - 4358
JO - Applied and Environmental Microbiology
JF - Applied and Environmental Microbiology
IS - 14
ER -