June 2007

Enterobacter sakazakii is a gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium within the family Enterobacteriaceae. The organism was called "yellow-pigmented Enterobacter cloacae" until 1980 when it was renamed Enterobacter sakazakii. (1)

In the April 12th issue of Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported on a fatal case of meningitis in an intensive care nursery in Tennessee. The infecting organism was Enterobacter sakazakii, an unusual but often fatal, invasive pathogen. In the fatal Tennessee case, the infection was traced to contaminated powdered infant formula. Other infants in the same nursery were screened for E sakazakii. Of 49 screened infants, 10 events were discovered (1 proven infection, 2 assumed infections, and 7 colonizations). This report detailed for the first time a direct link to an unopened product. The manufacturer voluntarily recalled the contaminated batch of powdered formula identified as the source. (2)

Continue Reading Enterobacter sakazakii: Infections Associated with Powdered Infant Formula

botulismBotulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Clostridium botulinum is the name of a group of bacteria commonly found in soil. It is an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming rod that produces a potent neurotoxin. These rod-shaped organisms grow best in low oxygen conditions. The bacteria form spores which allow them to survive in a dormant state until exposed to conditions that can support their growth. The organism and its spores are widely distributed in nature. They occur in both cultivated and forest soils, bottom sediments of streams, lakes, and coastal waters, and in the intestinal tracts of fish and mammals, and in the gills and viscera of crabs and other shellfish. There are seven types of botulism toxin designated by the letters A through G; only types A, B, E and F cause illness in humans.Continue Reading Clostridium Botulinum (Botulism)

Veggie Booty Salmonella RecallThe Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced today that Robert’s American Gourmet Food, Inc. is recalling all Veggie Booty Snack Food for potential Salmonella contamination.  The recall announcement was made after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention identified 51 people in 17 states with Salmonella infections that were traced to the consumption of Veggie…

Wisconsin public health officials are investigating an apparent foodborne illness outbreak among attendees of a Beaver Dam-area wedding reception.  The wedding and reception took place on June 16th, and guests began exhibiting symptoms of food poisoning, including fever, diarrhea, vomiting, and body aches shortly thereafter.  Dodge County and the Wisconsin Health Department are looking into…