Development of a PMA‐LAMP visual detection assay for viable Cronobacter sakazakii

Cronobacter sakazakii in powdered infant formula (PIF) can infect infants with a mortality rate of up to 80%. In this study, a propidium monoazide–loop‐mediated isothermal amplification (PMA‐LAMP) assay was developed for fast and cost‐effective visual detection of viable C. sakazakii . The detection could be finished in 75 min and the results could be identified by the naked eye. The detection limits of the assay were as low as 1.2 × 10 1 cfu/mL and 1.2 × 10 2 cfu/mL for gel electrophoresis and naked eyes respectively. Finally, the assay also showed good reliability in the artificially contaminated PIF.