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Hospital outbreak of Salmonella virchow possibly associated with a food handler

H Maguire1, P Pharoah, B Walsh

  • 1Regional Epidemiology Unit, PHLS/South Thames, St George's Hospital, Blackshaw Road, London, SW17 OQT, UK.

The Journal of Hospital Infection
|April 25, 2000
PubMed

Insights

A 1994 London hospital salmonella outbreak linked to turkey sandwiches revealed two distinct bacterial strains. This highlights the need for robust infection control and comprehensive strain characterization in healthcare settings.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Epidemiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Foodborne outbreaks in hospitals pose significant risks to patient safety and disrupt healthcare services.
  • Effective infection control measures are crucial for preventing and managing outbreaks within healthcare facilities.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate a foodborne salmonella outbreak at a private London hospital in 1994.
  • To identify the source and characteristics of the infecting bacterial strains.
  • To emphasize the importance of comprehensive outbreak investigation protocols.

Main Methods:

  • Epidemiological investigation, including case finding and attack rate estimation.
  • Microbiological analysis: Salmonella enterica serotype virchow identification.
  • Antibiogram and plasmid profile typing to differentiate bacterial strains.

Main Results:

  • The outbreak was linked to turkey sandwiches prepared by a food handler, affecting patients, staff, and a baby.
  • Two distinct strains of Salmonella virchow were identified: one resistant to sulphonamides and trimethoprim, and a sensitive strain.
  • The food handler and her baby harbored different strains, indicating complex transmission dynamics.

Conclusions:

  • Hospital foodborne outbreaks are preventable and necessitate stringent infection control policies and staff training.
  • Accurate strain characterization, including antimicrobial susceptibility testing, is vital for understanding outbreak epidemiology.
  • Inclusion of private hospitals in public health outbreak control plans and fostering collaboration between healthcare sectors are essential.

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