Pasteurizing milk is insufficient to destroy Coxiella burnetii.

Pasteurizing milk is insufficient to destroy Coxiella burnetii.

• A. True
• B. False
• C. Only for raw milk
• D. Depends on pasteurization method

Answer: (B)

Pasteurization is effective against Coxiella burnetii when the process is properly applied. This bacterium, which causes Q fever and can be present in milk from ruminants, has historically been used as a test organism to validate pasteurization. Standard heat treatments used in pasteurization, such as the common low-temperature/long-time or high-temperature/short-time methods, are designed to inactivate Coxiella burnetii. When milk is pasteurized according to validated parameters, the risk from this organism is greatly reduced. The statement is not correct because the destruction is achieved under proper processing; issues would only arise if the pasteurization process is not adequately executed, rather than because the organism resists pasteurization.

Pasteurization is effective against Coxiella burnetii when the process is properly applied. This bacterium, which causes Q fever and can be present in milk from ruminants, has historically been used as a test organism to validate pasteurization. Standard heat treatments used in pasteurization, such as the common low-temperature/long-time or high-temperature/short-time methods, are designed to inactivate Coxiella burnetii. When milk is pasteurized according to validated parameters, the risk from this organism is greatly reduced. The statement is not correct because the destruction is achieved under proper processing; issues would only arise if the pasteurization process is not adequately executed, rather than because the organism resists pasteurization.