Milk is heated to 72 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds followed by rapid cooling. The main purpose of this holder method of pasteurization is to:

• A Achieve complete sterility of milk including spores
• B Reduce the microbial count by exactly one log cycle
• C Destroy Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin already present in milk
• D Kill all vegetative pathogens such as Mycobacterium bovis, Brucella, and Coxiella while preserving milk quality ✓

Explanation

Holder pasteurization at 63 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes or flash (HTST) method at 72 degrees Celsius for 15 seconds kills vegetative pathogens including the most heat-resistant milk-borne agents, Coxiella burnetii and Mycobacterium bovis. Pasteurization is not sterilization since spores survive, and preformed toxins like staphylococcal enterotoxin are heat stable and unaffected.

Reference: Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease, 10th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.