![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.jpg)
BACKGROUND: Salmonella Heidelberg is an important cause of foodborne illness in the United States, and its association with poultry heightens its relevance to the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). To shed light on how S. Heidelberg illnesses compare with illnesses caused by other Salmonella serotypes, illness clusters investigated by FSIS will be described and discussed.
METHODS: Clusters reported to FSIS during FY2007-2013 were reviewed, and Salmonella clusters linked to FSIS-regulated products were selected for analysis. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize clusters of S. Heidelberg and other Salmonella serotypes based on epidemiologic and product characteristics, as well as whether the associated investigation led to a product recall. Internal reports were also reviewed to ascertain involvement of restaurants and institutions as exposure settings.
RESULTS: Out of 63 Salmonella clusters reported, 8 (13%) clusters comprised infections of S. Heidelberg. S. Heidelberg was responsible for 1,236 illnesses, of which 320 (26%) resulted in hospitalization and 1 (0.1%) death. Other Salmonella serotypes—predominately S. Typhimurium, S. Enteriditis, and S. Newport—were responsible for 2,320 illnesses, with 363 (16%) hospitalizations and 5 (0.2%) deaths. For all S. Heidelberg clusters, poultry products commercially sold as raw prior to preparation, cooking and consumption were identified as a possible or definitive vehicle, with 7 (88%) linked to chicken and 1 (12%) to turkey. In contrast, 23 (43%) other clusters were linked to beef, 10 (22%) to chicken, and 5 (9%) to turkey. Public health investigations led to product recalls in 3 (38%) S. Heidelberg clusters and 11 (20%) clusters of other Salmonella serotypes. Restaurants and/or institutions were exposure settings in 1 (14%) S. Heidelberg cluster compared to 15 (39%) clusters of other serotypes.
CONCLUSIONS: S. Heidelberg’s relatively high morbidity (155 illnesses per cluster compared to 50 for other serotypes) and high hospitalization rates (26% vs 16%) underscore the public health importance of this pathogen. Recent experiences have revealed the epidemiologic and regulatory challenges that come with investigating poultry-associated S. Heidelberg clusters. Lessons learned from recent investigations have enabled FSIS to identify research priorities and devise new strategies to address Salmonella in its regulated products. A prominent initiative shaped in part by these investigations is FSIS’ Salmonella Action Plan. New performance standards for raw comminuted poultry and chicken parts, increased collaboration with industry and other partners to improve pre-harvest control strategies, and updated approaches to consumer outreach are components of the plan most relevant to reducing poultry-associated Salmonella.