title: An outbreak of an unusual strain of Listeria monocytogenes infection in North-East Scotland.
abstract: Listeria monocytogenes infection is an important cause of illness and hospitalization in vulnerable individuals. In the present study, we describe a community outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes in the North-East region of Scotland, which was epidemiologically, environmentally and microbiologically linked to a local meat product and ready-to-eat product manufacturer. Infected individuals were interviewed, and an environmental investigation was conducted. Clinical and environmental samples were tested by culture, and isolates were typed by fluorescent amplified fragment length polymorphism (fAFLP). Three cases of Listeria monocytogenes were linked geographically, had the same serotype (1/2a) and were indistinguishable by fAFLP type XII.6. The human, food and environmental isolates were of the same serotype and were indistinguishable by molecular typing. This is the first community outbreak of L. monocytogenes reported in Scotland since the current outbreak surveillance was established in 1996. Epidemiological and laboratory evidence indicated poor hand hygiene, unhygienic practices and cross-contamination throughout the manufacturing process of ready-to-eat foods as a possible cause of the outbreak. More stringent control of commercial food establishments that provide ready-to-eat food and the need to advise specifically vulnerable groups, e.g., pregnant women, of the risk of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat food is urgently needed.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Directorate, NHS Grampian, Summerfield House, 2 Eday Road, Aberdeen AB15 6RE, UK. Electronic address: emmanuel.okpo@nhs.net.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Okpo
authors.affiliation: Public Health Directorate, NHS Grampian, Summerfield House, 2 Eday Road, Aberdeen AB15 6RE, UK.
authors.forename: Jayne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leith
authors.affiliation: Health Protection Scotland, National Services Scotland, 4th Floor, Meridian Court, 5 Cadogan Street, Glasgow G2 6QE, UK.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith-Palmer
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Department, Aberdeenshire Council, Gordon House, Blackhall Road AB51 3WA, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Department, Aberdeenshire Council, Gordon House, Blackhall Road AB51 3WA, UK.
authors.forename: Duncan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Parks
authors.affiliation: Public Health Directorate, NHS Grampian, Summerfield House, 2 Eday Road, Aberdeen AB15 6RE, UK.
authors.forename: Fiona
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Browning
authors.affiliation: Public Health Directorate, NHS Grampian, Summerfield House, 2 Eday Road, Aberdeen AB15 6RE, UK.
authors.forename: Lynn
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.affiliation: Public Health Directorate, NHS Grampian, Summerfield House, 2 Eday Road, Aberdeen AB15 6RE, UK.
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Corrigan
authors.affiliation: Public Health Directorate, NHS Grampian, Summerfield House, 2 Eday Road, Aberdeen AB15 6RE, UK.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Webster
authors.affiliation: Medical Microbiology Aberdeen Royal Infirmary Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZN, UK.
authors.forename: Anne M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Karcher
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Department, Aberdeenshire Council, Gordon House, Blackhall Road AB51 3WA, UK.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.affiliation: Environmental Health Department, Aberdeenshire Council, Gordon House, Blackhall Road AB51 3WA, UK.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Storey
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D058889:Molecular Typing; D011247:Pregnancy; D012606:Scotland / Q000453:epidemiology; D065288:Serogroup
keywords: Community acquired infection; Foodborne; Listeria monocytogenes; Listeriosis; Outbreak