Journal of

Background and Aim: The human bowel contains a large and dynamic bacterial population (more than 500 species of bacteria). Some intestinal bacteria such as Streptococcus bovis , Enterococcus and Bacteroides fragilis have previously been suggested to be implicated in the promotion of colon carcinogenesis probably through the conversion of mutagen metabolites.

Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with colorectal cancer confirmed by colonoscopy examination and pathological survey were evaluated. Thirty healthy people who matched by sex and age with patient group were identified. Fecal samples were collected from patient and control groups were cultured in specific and non-specific culture media (aerobic and nonaerobic situations).Organisms isolated by microbial and biochemical pathways.

Results: S. bovis was predominant fecal microbial flora in nine (39.1%) patients and six (26.1%) of control group (P=0.657). Entrococcus was predominant fecal microbial flora in 6 (26.1%) patients and 2 (8.7%) of control group (P=0.657). B. fragillis was predominant fecal microbial flora in 8 (21.7%) patients and 2 (5.4%) of control group (P= 0.062).

Conclusion: Our results by fisher statistical analysis show that the incidences of fecal S. bovis, Enterococcus and B. fragilis in colorectal cancer were not significantly higher than health people.

Background and Aim: Vegetables are one of the major components of food basket and consumption of them is on the rise. On the other hand, diseases and outbreaks caused by this group of foodstuffs have increasing trend. This study was performed to investigate the microbial contamination of vegetables used in south of Tehran.

Materials and Methods: Hundred fresh packaged and non packaged vegetable samples composed of 10 kinds, were examined based on the methods presented in Iran national standards. For each sample, enumeration of enterococcus and total microbial count was carried out by the pour plate technique in KF agar and plate count agar, respectively. Escherichia coli detection was also performed using lauryl sulfate broth, EC broth, peptone water and MacConkey agar mediums. Biochemical tests namely urea hydrolysis, motility, sulfide hydrogen (SH2) production, gas production and sugar fermentation were conducted as conformational tests of Escherichia coli.

Results: All (100%) of mixed leafy vegetables, spinaches, peppers, kuku (Persian food) vegetables, wheat sprouts and mung been sprouts had contamination higher than acceptable limits. In the case of green onions, basils, kuku vegetables, mushrooms and broccolis, respectively 40, 60, 30, 90 and 30 % of the samples were in contravention with acceptable limits, in terms of at least one parameter.

Conclusion: Our results show that consumption of vegetables specially those used as raw, need more attention at washing point and need to use hygienic rules of health department and health care centers, at shopping and consumption steps.