An outbreak of Salmonella Newport associated with mung bean sprouts, Germany, October/November 2011
2013
Rosner, B. | Bayer, C. | Bernard, H. | Frank, C. | Prager, R. | Rabsch, W. | Hiller, P. | Malorny, B. | Pfefferkorn, B. | Stark, K.
The number of reported Salmonella Newport infections in Germany increased from an average of 2-3 cases per week to 39 in week 44 in October 2011. Mung bean sprouts were suspected as the infection vehicle in this outbreak because mung bean sprouts contaminated with S. Newport had been detected at a distributor in Germany. In a case-control study, we compared notified adult S. Newport case-patients with notified S. Enteritidis patients of the same age group regarding their food consumption, in particular sprouts, in the 3 days before illness. S . Newport isolates from case-patients and food samples were subtyped. We conducted trace-back investigations for sprouts starting from locations where case-patients had eaten. Median age of case-patients (n=106) was 38 years (range 0-91 years), 52% were female. Sprouts showed the strongest association with disease among identified risk food items in univariate analysis. In multivariable logistic regression analysis only sprout consumption was associated with S . Newport infection. Molecular subtyping patterns of human isolates were indistinguishable from the mung bean sprouts isolate. Sprouts were traced back to a sprout producer in the Netherlands. Epidemiological, laboratory and trace-back evidence point to sprouts as the vehicle of infection. Since sprouts are frequently contaminated with microorganisms, consumption of raw or insufficiently cooked sprouts may impose a health risk.
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