Microbial Screening

Salmonella species are intracellular pathogens that cause illness in humans. It’s important to note that there are two species of Salmonella bacteria. Food and water can quickly become contaminated with the bacteria if they contact the feces of infected people or animals. Salmonella usually invades only the gastrointestinal tract and causes a disease called salmonellosis. The symptoms can be resolved with antibiotics. Unfortunately, although rare, Salmonella can invade the bloodstream and lead to sepsis, a life-threatening condition that requires intensive care, including IV Antibiotics. Many people only think of food poisoning when they think of Salmonella, but it can be deadly to immunocompromised patients using cannabis and hemp products, and testing is crucial.

E. Coli is a bacteria that generally lives in the intestines of animals and humans. Most E.coli are harmless and even an essential part of a healthy human intestinal tract. Unfortunately, some E. coli are pathogenic, meaning they cause illness. Some E. coli cause disease by making a dangerous toxin and Shiga toxin. This bacteria is known as “Shiga toxin-producing E. coli and is often abbreviated to STEC. This is the E. coli we hear about most commonly with foodborne illness. Symptoms often include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, and vomiting. Some infections are very mild, but E. coli can cause severe, even life-threatening sickness. STEC lives commonly in the intestinal tract of ruminant animals (like cattle), so cattle manure is often how cannabis becomes contaminated.

Aspergillus is a common mold that can live both indoors and outdoors. It can cause an infection in humans called Aspergillosis that can cause health problems such as lung infections, allergic reactions, and organ infection. In most cases, acute Aspergillosis occurs in people with compromised immune systems or autoimmune diseases. Since cannabis and hemp products are also used to treat those conditions, they must be approved for medicinal use by patients.