Outbreak of Salmonella Oslo Infections Linked to Persian Cucumbers — United States, 2016

Weekly / December 30, 2016 / 65(5051);1430–1433

Lyndsay Bottichio, MPH1; Carlota Medus, PhD2; Alida Sorenson, MPH3; Danielle Donovan, MS4; Reeti Sharma, MPH5; Natasha Dowell, MPH1; Ian Williams, PhD1; Allison Wellman, MPH6; Alikeh Jackson, MPH6; Beth Tolar, MPH1; Taylor Griswold, MS1; Colin Basler, DVM1 (View author affiliations)

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Summary

What is already known about this topic?

Salmonella is the most common bacterial cause of foodborne disease in the United States and results in the highest number of hospitalizations and deaths among foodborne pathogens. The Oslo serotype is rare, with about 25 cases reported each year nationally. According to the National Outbreak Reporting System, Salmonella outbreaks associated with cucumbers have been increasing in number each year since 2010.

What is added by this report?

In April 2016, a multistate cluster of Salmonella enterica serotype Oslo infections with an indistinguishable pulse-field gel electrophoresis pattern (XbaI PFGE pattern OSLX01.0090) was detected, involving 14 patients in eight states with illness onsets occurring during March 21–April 9. Epidemiologic evidence suggested that Persian cucumbers were the source of the outbreak; however, Salmonella was not isolated from any cucumbers.

What are the implications for public health practice?

Cucumbers have been identified as the source of several recent multistate outbreaks of Salmonella infections. As a consequence of these outbreaks, the Food and Drug Administration has selected cucumbers for an enhanced microbiologic surveillance sampling program for FY2016, in which both imported and domestic cucumbers will be tested for Salmonella and other pathogens. This program will assess whether any common factors are associated with Salmonella contamination. Implementation of new Food Safety Modernization Act requirements intended to prevent and minimize contamination of produce with pathogens might help to prevent or minimize future cucumber-associated Salmonella outbreaks.