Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of genomic digests demonstrates linkages among food, food handlers, and patrons in a food-borne Salmonella javiana outbreak in Massachusetts.

A total of 66 isolates of Salmonella javiana isolated from food, food handlers, and patrons that were epidemiologically linked to an outbreak of gastroenteritis were analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Analysis with restriction endonucleases XbaI and SpeI supported the epidemiologic association and suggested a pathway of transmission among food, food handlers, and patrons.