Dissemination of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing bacteria: the food-borne outbreak lesson

Objectives Commensal and opportunistic bacteria producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL-PB) have undergone a broad and rapid spread within the general population; however, the routes of dissemination have not been totally elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine whether individuals...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of antimicrobial chemotherapy 2008-06, Vol.61 (6), p.1244-1251
Main Authors: Lavilla, S., González-López, J. J., Miró, E., Domínguez, A., Llagostera, M., Bartolomé, R. M., Mirelis, B., Navarro, F., Prats, G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Bacterial Typing Techniques
beta-Lactamases - biosynthesis
beta-Lactamases - classification
Disease Outbreaks
Disease Reservoirs
Disease Transmission, Infectious
DNA Fingerprinting
Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
Enterobacteriaceae - classification
Enterobacteriaceae - drug effects
Enterobacteriaceae - isolation & purification
epidemiology
Feces - microbiology
food handling
Food Microbiology
Foodborne Diseases - epidemiology
Foodborne Diseases - microbiology
Gastroenteritis - epidemiology
Gastroenteritis - microbiology
Humans
Microbial Sensitivity Tests
Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique
reservoir
Serotyping
Spain - epidemiology
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Summary:Objectives Commensal and opportunistic bacteria producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL-PB) have undergone a broad and rapid spread within the general population; however, the routes of dissemination have not been totally elucidated. The aim of this study was to determine whether individuals involved in an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis, in addition to the enteropathogenic microorganism, share an ESBL-PB as indirect demonstration of its transmission from a common food source. Methods From 2003 to 2004 in Barcelona, Spain, stool samples from 905 people involved in 132 acute gastroenteritis outbreaks and 226 food handlers related to the outbreaks were investigated. Results In 31 outbreaks, 58 diners carrying one or more ESBL-PB were detected. In 10 outbreaks, two or more diners shared the same ESBL-PB, and in four of them, the strain was shared with the food handlers. Conclusions This study provides circumstantial evidence that foods can be a transmission vector for ESBL-PB, probably from two reservoirs, food animals and food handlers.
ISSN:0305-7453
1460-2091
DOI:10.1093/jac/dkn093