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Hospital-acquired listeriosis
J C Graham1, S Lanser, G Bignardi
1Clinical Microbiology Department, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Queen Victoria Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. j.c.graham@ncl.ac.uk
The Journal of Hospital Infection
|July 2, 2002
Summary
Four cases of listeriosis, a bacterial infection, were identified in a UK hospital. The outbreak was traced to contaminated sandwiches provided by an external caterer, highlighting challenges in hospital food safety.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Food Safety
Background:
- Listeriosis is a serious infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes.
- Nosocomial infections pose a significant challenge in healthcare settings.
- Foodborne pathogens can lead to outbreaks with severe consequences.
Observation:
- Four cases of listeriosis occurred within a two-month period in northeast England.
- The cases exhibited temporal and spatial clustering, suggesting a common source.
- Epidemiological investigation indicated nosocomial acquisition of the infections.
Findings:
- The outbreak was definitively traced to a single external caterer supplying sandwiches to hospital shops.
- Contaminated food items served within a hospital environment were identified as the transmission route.
- This highlights a critical vulnerability in hospital food supply chains.
Implications:
- Effective prevention of foodborne listeriosis in hospitals requires stringent food safety protocols.
- Collaboration between healthcare facilities and food service providers is crucial.
- The findings underscore the need for enhanced surveillance and control measures for foodborne pathogens in healthcare settings.