Astrid M Knoblauch1, Martin W Bratschi1, Meike K Zuske1, Denise Althaus2, Roger Stephan2, Herbert Hächler2, Andreas Baumgartner3, Rita Prager4, Wolfgang Rabsch4, Ekkehardt Altpeter5, Marianne Jost5, Mirjam Mäusezahl5, Christoph Hatz6, Sabine Kiefer1. 1. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland. 2. Institute for Food Safety and Hygiene, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Switzerland. 3. Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Bern, Switzerland. 4. Robert Koch Institute, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella, National Reference Centre for Salmonella and other Bacterial Enterics, Wernigerode, Germany. 5. Federal Office of Public Health, Berne, Switzerland. 6. Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, Switzerland; Institute for Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract
QUESTION UNDER STUDY: In July 2014, an outbreak of Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Bovismorbificans was detected in Switzerland. The goal of the outbreak investigation was to rapidly identify and eliminate the contamination source in order to prevent new cases. METHODS: A case-case study design was applied comprising reported cases of S. Bovismorbificans and cases of other serovars. A trawling questionnaire was administered by telephone interview. Data were collected for 34 cases (20 S. Bovismorbificans and 14 Salmonella spp.) pertaining to food consumption during the 72 hours prior to symptom onset. RESULTS: A statistically significant association between an S. Bovismorbificans infection and the consumption of 'salads' (odds ratio [OR] 14.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.47-138.27) as well as the consumption of 'sprouts' (OR 10.6, 95% CI 1.16-97.59) was found. Principal places of consumption of 'salads' and 'sprouts' in outbreak cases were restaurants in southern Germany (80.0%, 95% CI 56.3%-94.3%). Microbiological analysis in Germany identified S. Bovismorbificans on sprouts, and genotype analysis confirmed that Swiss and German cases shared the same outbreak strain. The contaminated products were removed from the market in Germany, preventing an on-going outbreak. CONCLUSION: The combination of the applied methods and the collaboration between the two countries proved to be crucial elements of this investigation. A series of sprouts-associated salmonellosis outbreaks underpin the importance of this vegetable as a potential food-borne pathogen carrier.
QUESTION UNDER STUDY: In July 2014, an outbreak of Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Bovismorbificans was detected in Switzerland. The goal of the outbreak investigation was to rapidly identify and eliminate the contamination source in order to prevent new cases. METHODS: A case-case study design was applied comprising reported cases of S. Bovismorbificans and cases of other serovars. A trawling questionnaire was administered by telephone interview. Data were collected for 34 cases (20 S. Bovismorbificans and 14 Salmonella spp.) pertaining to food consumption during the 72 hours prior to symptom onset. RESULTS: A statistically significant association between an S. Bovismorbificansinfection and the consumption of 'salads' (odds ratio [OR] 14.3, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.47-138.27) as well as the consumption of 'sprouts' (OR 10.6, 95% CI 1.16-97.59) was found. Principal places of consumption of 'salads' and 'sprouts' in outbreak cases were restaurants in southern Germany (80.0%, 95% CI 56.3%-94.3%). Microbiological analysis in Germany identified S. Bovismorbificans on sprouts, and genotype analysis confirmed that Swiss and German cases shared the same outbreak strain. The contaminated products were removed from the market in Germany, preventing an on-going outbreak. CONCLUSION: The combination of the applied methods and the collaboration between the two countries proved to be crucial elements of this investigation. A series of sprouts-associated salmonellosis outbreaks underpin the importance of this vegetable as a potential food-borne pathogen carrier.
Authors: Gopal R Gopinath; Hyein Jang; Junia Jean-Gilles Beaubrun; Jayanthi Gangiredla; Mark K Mammel; Andrea Müller; Sandeep Tamber; Isha R Patel; Laura Ewing; Leah M Weinstein; Caroline Z Wang; Samantha Finkelstein; Flavia Negrete; Tim Muruvanda; Marc Allard; Donald C Sockett; Franco Pagotto; Ben D Tall; Roger Stephan Journal: Microorganisms Date: 2022-06-11
Authors: Diederik Brandwagt; Cees van den Wijngaard; Anna Dolores Tulen; Annemieke Christine Mulder; Agnetha Hofhuis; Rianne Jacobs; Max Heck; Anjo Verbruggen; Hans van den Kerkhof; Ife Slegers-Fitz-James; Lapo Mughini-Gras; Eelco Franz Journal: Euro Surveill Date: 2018-01