• Food Science of Animal Resources
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.1237-1245
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• 2018

In this study, the contamination levels of hygienic indicators and foodborne pathogens in retail meat products were investigated in relation to the various market factors including processing temperature, processing area, and market type. Ground beef samples (n=80) were purchased from 40 meat markets and investigated for microbiological quality. Beefs processed below $20^{\circ}C$ had significantly lower numbers of total coliforms (TC) than these processed over $20^{\circ}C$ (2.01 vs. 2.79 log CFU/g; p<0.05). Interestingly, separation of processing area did not affect the contamination levels. Remarkably, the contamination levels of hygienic indicator differ among market types, indicating that not only processing condition but distribution structure that is directly related with storage period could affect the final microbiological loads of the meat products. In addition, the prevalences of Listeria monocytogenes (a psychrotroph), Enterococcus faecium, and Enterococcus faecalis were 7.5% (6/80), 10.0% (8/80), and 20.0% (16/80), respectively, which is irrelevant to market factors except meat products from wholesale markets where no L. monocytogenes were found among 30 samples. The results of this study indicate that the contamination level of hygiene indicator and foodborne pathogens in retail beef is more related with processing temperature and storage period than other environmental factors.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.33 no.7
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• pp.1154-1161
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• 2004

The objective of this study was to evaluate microbiological Quality of HACCP application in elementary school foodservice operations. Microbiological Quality of utensils and non-heated foods such as salad was measured two times at five elementary schools in Daegu. The two experimentations differed in that after the first experimentation employees were educated and trained on HACCP based sanitation standards with a goal of improving microbiological Quality of foodservice. Microbiological Quality, time, and temperature were evaluated at three critical control points (CCPs)： washing and disinfecting, personal hygiene and non-cross contamination. Micro-biological Quality was assessed using 3M petrifilm to measure total plate count and coliform group. The first experimentation showed low microbiological Quality due to cross contamination of utensils and cooking gloves; high microbiological count of the garlic, powdered red pepper, and ginger; and not thoroughly washing and disinfecting vegetables. In the second experimentation, microbiological Quality was greatly improved by washing and thoroughly disinfecting raw ingredients and utensils, and using good personal hygiene. However, microbiological Quality of seasonings was still low. Immediate corrective actions were required in one of the foodservice operations that was assessed. These results strongly suggest that foodservice operations should address non-heated food Quality. It is essential to measure microbiological Quality regularly and continually train and retrain employees on hand washing and disinfecting raw ingredients. Further studies are needed to determine whether pathogens are present in raw vegetables and seasonings.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.213-222
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• 2012

Objectives: This study was undertaken in order to evaluate by work space zoning and structure the concentrations of biological contaminants in the indoor air of domestic office buildings. Methods: Air samples were collected in the office spaces of 15 office buildings in Seoul from June 28 to July 28, 2011. Prior to the sampling, each office was classified into 'open-plan office', 'cellular office' and 'mixed office' according to the work space zoning. To evaluate the biological contamination of indoor air, total suspended bacteria (TSB), Gram positive bacteria (GPB), Staphylococcus aureus (S.A), Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Gram negative bacteria (GNB) and fungi were investigated. During the sampling, temperature, relative humidity and carbon dioxide ($CO_2$) were measured. Results: The TSB concentrations ($GM{\pm}GSD$) were $452({\pm}1.3)cfu/m^3$ in open-plan offices, $366({\pm}1.3)cfu/m^3$ in cellular offices and $287({\pm}1.5)cfu/m^3$ in mixed offices, and there were significant differences between the three groups (p<0.05). The highest concentrations ($GM{\pm}GSD$) of fungi were found in the indoor air of cellular offices $128({\pm}1.0)cfu/m^3$, which was at least three times higher than the concentrations in mixed offices $43({\pm}1.0)cfu/m^3$ (p<0.05). Conclusions: Microbiological contamination in the indoor air of office buildings by work space structure was the highest with the open-plan office layout which includes no high walls or doors separating the occupants.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.46 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2014

This research has been performed by our own investigation, also cooperated with Health and Sanification Division and each of district offices in Busan metropolitan city. After choosing, we collected water samples five times for microbiological examination. As a result of investigating in 160 water samples from urban areas, we could detect 88 cases of Vibrio spp. Furthermore, there were four cases exceeding the acceptable limit of aquarium water (100,00/mL) and another four cases exceeding the limit of Coliform group (1,000 below/100 mL). As a result of investigating that we performed for 271 cases of water samples from coastal areas from April to November, we could detect 130 cases of vibrio species and 10 cases of Coliform group. After performing 17 kinds of antibiotic susceptibility test for 41 cases of isolated Vibrio parahaemolyticus, 27 cases showed tolerance to Amplicllin (AM), all of 31 cases showed intermediate resistance only to Cefazolin (CF) but had sensitivity to the rest of them. As a result of performing antibiotic susceptibility test, serum test and PFGE gene analysis on each 10 pair of Vibrio parahaemolyticus detected concurrently from intake-pipe water and, aquarium water, we couldn't get data showing that they are clearly same species in three kinds of test. In addition, UV sterilization, Ozonization and so on. Based on our research, intake pipe didn't have a problem with microbiological contamination so we are sure that the germ came from supplied fish had caused that kind of contamination. For effective management, UV sterilization or Ozonization which can be handled consistently should be adopted in aquarium.

• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.431-436
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• 2022

For the safety assessment of microbiological and chemical hazards in katsuobushi, fifteen samples of katsuobushi were purchased from supermarkets. The contamination levels of total viable bacteria, coliforms, Escherichia coli, and nine pathogenic bacteria [Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Bacillus cereus, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Clostridium perfringens, Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), Yersinia enterocolitica and Campylobacter jejuni/coli] were quantitatively or qualitatively assessed. Additionally, the heavy metals (total and methyl mercury) content, radioactivity (¹³¹ I, ¹³⁴ Cs⁺ and ¹³⁷ Cs) were quantitatively assessed. Microbial and chemical analyses were performed using standard methods in Korean food code. The contamination level of total viable bacteria was 2.70 (1.18-4.42) log CFU/g. Coliforms, E. coli and S. aureus were not detected in any samples. Other eight pathogenic bacteria were negative in all samples. The contamination levels of total and methyl mercury were 0.366 (0.227-0.481) and 0.120 (0.002-0.241) mg/kg, respectively. In addition, radioactivity was not detected in any samples. The results will be helpful in revitalizing domestic use and boosting exports of katsuobushi because the microbiological and chemical safety of katsuobushi has been assured. Furthermore, the results may be used as a basis for performing chemical and microbial risk assessments of katsuobushi.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.333-338
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• 2017

This study was performed to assess microbial contamination of Aronia melanocarpa, blueberry, raspberry, and cranberry sold in several markets. We investigated total aerobic bacteria and detected foodborne bacteria by multiplex PCR from Aronia melanocarpa, blueberry, raspberry, and cranberry. Total aerobic bacteria of each sample showed mean 3.54 log CFU/g for Aronia melanocarpa, mean 1.90 log CFU/g for blueberry, and mean 1.40 log CFU/g for raspberry, but not detected in cranberry. Specially, Aronia melanocarpa contained high total aerobic bacteria contamination among various berries and contamination level reached 4.17 log CFU/g in sample 5. To evaluate the effect of distribution conditions, we also investigated total aerobic bacteria of various berries. Total aerobic bacteria showed mean 2.89 log CFU/g for berries in refrigerated distribution and 1.40 log CFU/g in frozen distribution, but not in dry distribution. For assessment of foodborne bacteria contamination, we conducted PCR with multiplex primers of E. coli O157, S. aureus, B. cereus, V. parahaemolyticus, L. monocytogenes, Y. enterocolitica, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp. Among these foodborne bacteria, B. cereus was amplified in Aronia melanocarpa in sample 4 and blueberry in sample 1, 2, 3, and 5. The result of quantitative analysis of B. cereus contamination showed 4.08 log CFU/g of Aronia melanocarpa in sample 4 and higher contamination rate 4.07 log CFU/g of blueberry in sample 3. These results suggest that strict food safety control in harvest and distribution of various berries is necessary to prevent foodborne disease and improve microbiological safety.

• Journal of environmental and Sanitary engineering
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 1997

The microbial distribution on 115 transmitter of telephone in 5 site were studied during the period Mar to May 1996. The result were follows: 1. The public telephone at Kangnam terminal showed highest contamination of total bacteria (1.5 $\times $ 10$^{4}$/cm$^{2}$ and the telephone at home showed lowest contamination at the mean 4.6/cm$^{2}$ 2. The most frequent bacteria was staphylococcus epidermides and staptylococcus aureus which is pathogen of food poison was frequently isolated. 3. The public telephone at Seoul showed the highest contamination of fungi and the telephone at home showed lowest contamination of Fungi 4. In fungi 631 strains of 16 species were isolated that of highest frequency is confirmed to be Asperillus fumigatus which is pathogen of Aspergillosis, Nigar and Penicillium spp. were frequently isolated.

• The International Journal of Costume Culture
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.54-61
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• 1999

The purpose of this research was first to analyse and compare the types of microbes inherent among the unwashed and washed Kupori textiles, and second to investigate whether there is a difference between unwashed and washed Kupori textiles on the susceptibility of contamination by microorganism when exposed to the same microbial environment. Microbial identification procedure and the Shake Flask Test for investigating the effect of exposure to microbial environment were carried out separately. The result of microbial identification procedure indicated that a variety of bacteria and fungi were inherent in both unwashed and washed textiles and that the population of contaminated microorganism became more diverse after washing. The result of Shake Flask Test indicated that given the same exposure condition, the unwashed textiles tend to be more susceptible to bacterial contamination than the washed textiles. The results of the present study supported the current conservation procedures adopted in Korean museums which include washing and humigation procedures before long-term storage or display of exhumed textiles.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.31-37
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• 2002

Major hazards existed in slaughterhouse are pathogenic microorganisms originated from intestinal microflora of slaughtered animals. This study was intended for the identification of microbial contamination sources during pork slaughtering in small plants. Total aerobic bacteria, Coliform group, Salmonella spp, Listeria monocytogenes, and Campylobacter jejuni/coli were isolated from the surface sample of pork carcasses. Contamination level among different sampling points of ham, belly and neck did not showed statistical differences. Therefore, the mixed sampling from belly and neck of carcass could be effective for microbiological monitoring. Isolation rates of pathogenic microorganisms showed Salmonella spp 20.9%, Listeria monocytogenes 10.5%, and Campylobacter jejuni/coli 8.1% from 296 sampling points. High prevalence rate of Salmonella spp indicated that the contamination of intestinal microflora occurred due to unsanitary processing control, which required HACCP system in small plants. It was recommended that the prerequisite program should be a key factor for a successful HACCP system implementation especially in small size slaughterhouse.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.99-106
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• 2016

This study was aimed to assess microbiological contamination level of Liriope platyphylla farms (A, B, and C) located in Cheongyang, Chungnam province. Specimens sampled from those farms and L. platyphylla tuberous roots were assessed for sanitary indication bacteria such as total aerobic bacteria, coliforms, and Escherichia coli and pathogenic bacteria such as Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus cereus, quantitatively and qualitatively. As a result, those farms are not contaminated by E. coli O157:H7, L. monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., at all. And S. aureus was only found qualitatively from workers' gloves at a farm. As a whole, those farms (soil, harvest container, harvester, cleanser, washing water and tray) were maintained in a low level of microbiological contamination. However a cleanser was contaminated by coliforms ($4.35log\;CFU/100cm^2$), and it is required to improve farm hygiene. Microbiological contamination level of L. platyphylla tuberous root was decreased in the postharvest process including washing and drying.