Salmonella Outbreak in a Nursing Home

Abstract

We performed a retrospective review of an outbreak of Salmonella gastroenteritis that occurred in a community nursing home in 1987. Forty-four of 199 residents had a diarrheal illness; Salmonella heidelberg was isolated from the stool in 19 cases. Although the distribution of cases suggested a common source for the outbreak, no common source of infection could be demonstrated, despite extensive investigation. The clinical presentation of symptomatic individuals ranged from mild diarrhea to a severe gastrointestinal illness, and 26% of symptomatic, culture-positive patients required hospitalization. The median duration of pathogen excretion during convalescence in untreated residents was six weeks, but six patients who were treated with antibiotics shed S. heidelberg for a median duration of 14.5 weeks. We conclude that (1) the clinical spectrum of Salmonella gastroenteritis in nursing-home patients is variable, ranging from mild to severe illness; and (2) nursing-home Salmonella outbreaks impose a high economic burden because of expense of epidemiologic investigation, prolonged isolation measures, hospitalization for severely ill residents, and potential institutional closure.

Antimicrobial Resistance in Salmonella enterica Serovar Heidelberg Isolates from Retail Meats, Including Poultry, from 2002 to 2006

“…Epidemic outbreaks of Salmonella serovar Heidelberg present a significant public health and economic burden in the region (1). Salmonella serovar Heidelberg has caused large outbreaks of food-borne illness in nursing homes, in hospitals, and within the community (4,8,19,20). Antimicrobial drug resistance in this serovar is notable, where resistance to ceftiofur with decreased susceptibility to ceftriaxone has increased in recent years.…”

Antibiotic Resistance in Nursing Homes

“…The outbreak strain of Haemophilus influenza was resistant to amoxicillin, thrimethoprimsulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol and tetracycline. Choi described a nursing home outbreak caused by Salmonella Heidelberg serotype, frequently expressing multiple resistance (Choi AT & Al, 1990). Forty-four (22%) of the 199 residents were affected.…”

Behavior of Salmonella Heidelberg in Fruit Juices

“…Epidemic outbreaks of Salmonella serovar heidelberg present a significant public health and economic burden in the region [11]. Salmonella serovar heidelberg has caused large outbreaks of food-borne illness in nursing homes, in hospitals, and within the community [12][13][14][15].…”