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Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella Heidelberg Associated with Mechanically Separated Chicken at a Correctional Facility

Amanda L Taylor1, Rendi Murphree2, L Amanda Ingram3

  • 11 Tennessee Department of Health, Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Foodborne Pathogens and Disease
|November 6, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg infections occurred in inmates linked to mechanically separated chicken (MSC). Contaminated MSC and poor food handling were identified as likely causes, highlighting the need for improved hygiene practices.

Area of Science:

  • Foodborne illness
  • Infectious disease epidemiology
  • Antimicrobial resistance

Background:

  • Outbreaks of Salmonella Heidelberg infections can pose significant public health risks.
  • Mechanically separated chicken (MSC) has been implicated in previous foodborne illness outbreaks.
  • Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial strains present unique challenges in treatment and control.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg infections.
  • To identify the source and contributing factors of the outbreak in a correctional facility.
  • To assess the clinical severity and antimicrobial resistance patterns of the outbreak isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Descriptive epidemiology of 23 infected inmates.
  • Case-control study to identify associated food items.
  • Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for bacterial subtyping.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Salmonella isolates.
  • Environmental health assessment of food handling practices.

Main Results:

  • Twenty-three inmates developed Salmonella Heidelberg infections, with symptoms including diarrhea, fever, and vomiting; 13% required hospitalization.
  • PFGE analysis confirmed an outbreak strain of Salmonella Heidelberg.
  • Two isolates exhibited resistance to five drug classes, including ceftriaxone, classifying them as MDR.
  • Salmonella Heidelberg indistinguishable from the outbreak strain was isolated from unopened MSC.
  • Cross-contamination due to poor food-handling practices was identified as a likely contributing factor.

Conclusions:

  • MDR Salmonella Heidelberg infections associated with MSC pose a severe health risk in institutional settings.
  • Inadequate food-handling practices can facilitate the spread of foodborne pathogens.
  • Enhanced hygiene protocols, including proper handwashing and food safety, are crucial for preventing future outbreaks.

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