Outbreak of hospital-acquired gastroenteritis and invasive infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes, Finland, 2012.
During one week in July 2012, two patients from the same ward at the municipal hospital in Vaasa, Finland, were diagnosed with septicaemia caused by Listeria monocytogenes. An outbreak investigation revealed eight concomitant cases of febrile gastroenteritis caused by L. monocytogenes on the same ward. Median age of the cases was 82 years and median incubation time for listerial gastroenteritis was 21 h (range 9-107). An additional 10 cases of invasive listeriosis caused by the same outbreak strain were identified across the whole country during the summer of 2012. Environmental investigation at the affected municipal hospital ward revealed ready-sliced meat jelly as the suspected source of the infection. During inspection of the meat jelly production plant, one pooled sample taken from a floor drain and a trolley wheel in the food processing environment was positive for the outbreak strain of L. monocytogenes. After the producer stopped the production of meat jelly, no further cases of listeriosis with the outbreak strain were identified via nationwide surveillance.
Infectious Diseases Unit,Vaasa Central Hospital,Vaasa,Finland.
A
A
Jacks
Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira,Helsinki,Finland.
A
A
Pihlajasaari
Vaasa Municipal Hospital,City of Vaasa,Finland.
M
M
Vahe
Vaasa,Environment Centre,City of Vaasa,Finland.
A
A
Myntti
Department of Clinical Microbiology,Vaasa Central Hospital,Vaasa,Finland.
S-S
SS
Kaukoranta
Infectious Diseases Unit,Vaasa Central Hospital,Vaasa,Finland.
N
N
Elomaa
National Institute for Health and Welfare,Helsinki,Finland.
S
S
Salmenlinna
Finnish Food Safety Authority Evira,Helsinki,Finland.
L
L
Rantala
Vaasa Municipal Hospital,City of Vaasa,Finland.
K
K
Lahti
National Institute for Health and Welfare,Helsinki,Finland.
S
S
Huusko
National Institute for Health and Welfare,Helsinki,Finland.
M
M
Kuusi
National Institute for Health and Welfare,Helsinki,Finland.
A
A
Siitonen
National Institute for Health and Welfare,Helsinki,Finland.
R
R
Rimhanen-Finne
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000382:microbiology*; D005780:Gelatin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products / Q000382:microbiology*; D008875:Middle Aged
D005780:Gelatin
Foodborne outbreak; Listeria monocytogenes; immunosuppression; listerial gastroenteritis; nosocomial infection