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CDC - January 17, 2012 - Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Associated With Lab Exposure PDF
CDC - January 17, 2012 - Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Associated With Lab Exposure PDF
CDC - January 17, 2012 - Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Associated with Lab Exposure
Salmonella
Human Salmonella Typhimurium Infections Associated
with Exposure to Clinical and Teaching Microbiology
Laboratories
Case Count Map (/salmonella/typhimurium-laboratory/011712/map.html)
Epi Curve (/salmonella/typhimurium-laboratory/011712/epi.html)
January 17, 2012 (FINAL Update)
On this Page
Introduction (#introduction)
Investigation (#investigation)
Advice to Students and Employees in Clinical and Teaching Microbiology Laboratories
(#advice-students)
Advice to Laboratory Directors, Managers, and Faculty involved with Clinical and Teaching
Microbiology Laboratories (#advice-directors)
Clinical Features/Signs and Symptoms (#clinicalsigns)
Additional Resources (#resources)
Previous Updates (#previous)
Case Count Map
(/salmonella/typhimurium-laboratory/011712/map.html)
Cl i ck m ap to v i ew a l arger i m age. (/sal monel l a/ty phi mur i um-l ab or ator y /01 1 7 1 2/map.html )
Epi Curv e
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(/salmonella/typhimurium-laboratory/011712/epi.html)
Cl i ck graph to v i ew a l arger i m age. (/sal monel l a/ty phi mur i um-l ab or ator y /01 1 7 1 2/epi .html )
Introduction
On October 30, 2010, PulseNet (/pulsenet/) , the national molecular subtyping network for
foodborne disease surveillance, detected a multistate cluster of Salmonella Typhimurium
infections with a particular pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern and other genetic
characteristics, referred to here as strain X. In December, the New Mexico Department of Health
identified 3 ill persons infected with strain X. One was a student and the 2 others were children of
students in microbiology courses held at two different community college campuses. CDC
collaborated with public health officials in several states to investigate this multistate cluster of
Salmonella Typhimurium infections associated with exposure to clinical and teaching microbiology
laboratories. Investigators used DNA analysis of Salmonella bacteria obtained through diagnostic
testing to identify cases of illness that might be related.
Between August 20, 2010 and June 29, 2011, a total of 109 individuals infected with strain X of
Salmonella Typhimurium were reported from 38 states: AK (2), AL (4), AZ (4), CA (3), CO (1),
FL (1), GA (6), IA (1), ID (2), IL (4), IN (2), KS (4), KY (4), MA (4), MD (3), MI (3), MN (9), MO
(2), NC (1), ND (1), NE (2), NH (1), NJ (3), NM (3), NV (1), NY (4), OH (3), OK (1), OR (1), PA (9),
SC (2), SD (1), TN (2), TX (1), UT (4), WA (5), WI (4), and WY (1). Among persons with available
information, illness onset dates range from August 20, 2010 to June 14, 2011, 2011. Infected
individuals ranged in age from less than 1 year to 91 years old, and the median age was 21 years.
Sixty-one percent of patients were female. Twelve percent of patients were hospitalized. One
death was reported.
The timeline of infections can be visually described with a chart showing the number of persons
who became ill each day. This chart is called an epidemic curve or epi curve
(/salmonella/typhimurium-laboratory/011712/epi.html) . Please see the Timeline for Reporting of
Salmonella Cases (/salmonella/reportingtimeline.html) for more details. The expected baseline for
strain X in PulseNet is approximately 0 to 4 cases reported per week. Beyond these cases,
Salmonella is an important cause of human illness in the United States. More information about
Salmonella, and steps people can take to reduce their risk of infection can be found on the CDC
Salmonella Web Page (/salmonella/general/prevention.html) and the CDC Vital Signs Web Page
(/vitalsigns/FoodSafety/) .
Investigation
In an epidemiologic study conducted during February and March 2011, 32 ill persons answered
questions about exposures during the days before becoming ill. Investigators compared their
responses with those of 64 persons of similar age previously reported to state health departments
with other illnesses (controls). Preliminary analysis of this study suggested that exposure to
clinical and teaching microbiology laboratories was a possible source of illness. Illnesses were
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laboratory and follow proper hand washing practices. This is especially important to do
before preparing food or baby bottles, before eating and before contact with young
children.
Leave food, drinks or personal items like car keys, cell phones and mp3 players outside of
the laboratory. These items may become contaminated if you bring them into the
laboratory or touch them while working in the laboratory.
Wear a lab coat or other protective garment over personal clothing when working in a
microbiology laboratory. Remove protective garment before leaving for non-laboratory areas
(e.g., cafeteria, library, or administrative offices). Dispose of protective garment appropriately
or deposit it for laundering. Lab coats should be removed from the laboratory only when they
are to be laundered by the institution.
If you work with Salmonella bacteria in a microbiology laboratory, be aware that these
bacteria can make you sick. Watch for symptoms of Salmonella infection (/salmonella/general/)
, such as diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. Call your health care provider if you or a
family member has any of these symptoms.
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Additional Resources
Stay Safe in the Lab! What You Work With Can Make You Sick
[PDF - 1 page]
(/salmonella/pdf/CDC_LAI_Prevention_Poster_012313_508.pdf)
General Information: Salmonella (http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/general/)
(http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su6002a1.htm?s_cid=su6002a1_w)
Guidelines for Safe Work Practices in Human and Animal Medical Diagnostic Laboratories
(/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/su6101a1.htm?s_cid=su6101a1_w)
(http://www.cdc.gov/biosafety/publications/bmbl5/index.htm)
Hand Hygiene in Healthcare Settings (http://www.cdc.gov/handhygiene/)
Handwashing: Hand Hygiene Saves Lives (http://www.cdc.gov/features/handhygiene/)
Previous Updates
April 28, 2011 (/salmonella/typhimurium-laboratory/042711/index.html)
Pa g e la st r ev iew ed: Ja n u a r y 1 7 , 2 0 1 2
Pa g e la st u pda t ed: Ja n u a r y 2 4 , 2 0 1 3
Con t en t sou r ce: Cen t er s for Disea se Con t r ol a n d Pr ev en t ion
Na t ion a l Cen t er for Em er g in g a n d Zoon ot ic In fect iou s Disea ses (NCEZID)
Div ision of Foodbor n e, W a t er bor n e, a n d En v ir on m en t a l Disea ses (DFW ED)
Centers for Disease Control and Prev ention 1 600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA
30333, USA
800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636) TTY : (888) 232-6348 - Contact CDCINFO
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