Detection of microbiological contamination in the ice used to cool drinks, selling around Naresuan University

Abstract

Objective : The study aimed to detect the total coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus in the ice used for cooling drinks, selling around Naresuan University.

Method : This study included the collected 41 samples of ice used for cooling drinks, selling around Naresuan University during August to October 2020 which were detected the microbiological contamination in each of them, using Most probable number (MPN) method for total coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli, membrane filter technique for Staphylococcus aureus.

Result : From 41 collected samples, 31 of them or 75.61% were found contaminating with greater than or equal to 2.2 MPN/100 mL total coliform bacteria and 28 of them or 68.29% were found contaminating with E. coli. Whereas S. aureus was not found in all samples.

Conclusions : This study revealed that 78.05% of the ice used to cool drinks, selling around Naresuan University contaminated with the unacceptable microbials due to the microbiological qualification. Therefore, production, transportation, storage, and distribution of ice should be examined, especially the sources of water for the consumers’ safety.