Abstract: In this study, the research profiles, research hotspots and development trends of predictive microbiology were analyzed with the help of bibliometrics to provide ideas for future research. In the Web of Science core collection database, relevant literature on the topic of predictive microbiology from 2006 to 2021 were selected and displayed based on bibliometrics and Cite Space visual analysis software. The number of annual publications in the field of predictive microbiology has increased significantly from 57 articles in 2006 to 138 articles in 2021. The main research areas were food science technology, microbiology, infectious diseases and biotechnology applied microbiology. There were 73 countries or regions in the world which have conducted the research on predictive microbiology. The top 15 countries in the number of literature publications accounted for 42.90% of the total number of literature publications. China has ranked sixth globally in the number of literature publications and had close collaboration with other countries or regions such as the United States and Europe. The key words including diagnosis, performance, mortality, therapy, parameter estimation, lactic acid bacteria, pork, guideline and risk factor were widely considered as hotspots. With the advantages of rapidity, efficiency and accuracy, predictive microbiology will play an important role in the research areas of food science, biology as well and science in the future.

Key words: predictive microbiology, bibliometrics, predictive model, research situation