An outbreak and case-control study of Salmonella Havana linked to alfalfa sprouts in South Australia, 2018

An epidemiological investigation and a retrospective case-control study were conducted into an outbreak of Salmonella Havana in alfalfa sprouts, in Adelaide, Australia. In total, 31 cases of S. Havana were notified during June and July 2018 and linked to the outbreak. Eighteen cases and 54 unmatched controls were included in a case-control study. Results from the case-control study indicated an increased risk of illness linked to the consumption of alfalfa sprouts; this was supported by trace-back, sampling and environmental investigations. This outbreak of S. Havana was caused by consumption of alfalfa sprouts from one local sprouts producer. It is unclear as to when in the production of alfalfa sprouts the contamination occurred. However, contaminated seeds and poor pest control are the most likely causes. This investigation highlights the importance of ensuring that producers take appropriate action to minimise the likelihood of contamination and to comply with legislation and standards for primary production and food safety

A protracted outbreak of Salmonella Hessarek infection associated with one brand of eggs - South Australia, March 2017 - July 2018

Salmonella Hessarek is an uncommon serotype in Australia. We report on the investigation of a protracted outbreak of 25 cases of S. Hessarek gastroenteritis in which cases were defined as any laboratory confirmed case of Salmonella Hessarek notified to the South Australian Communicable Disease Control Branch from 1st March 2017 to 3 July 2018. We conducted a descriptive case series investigation interviewing all cases and 17 (68%) reported consuming brand X free-range eggs. Four samples of one-dozen brand X eggs were cultured for the presence of Salmonella spp. One out of the four samples returned positive for S. Hessarek in the contents of the eggs; Salmonella was not present in any of the whole egg rinses of the four samples. The high proportion of cases reporting the consumption of brand X free-range eggs and the isolation of S. Hessarek from sampling four dozen brand X eggs is an unusually strong signal implicating brand X eggs as the source of this outbreak. From a public health perspective, it is important to understand the behaviour of S. Hessarek including its ability to be present in the content of eggs and further research is recommended. The findings in this investigation into a rare Salmonella serotype highlight the need for continuous monitoring of the epidemiology of Salmonella in Australia including the epidemiology of egg-associated Salmonella outbreaks of human disease

A protracted outbreak of Salmonella Hessarek infection associated with one brand of eggs—South Australia, March 2017 - July 2018

Salmonella Hessarek is an uncommon serotype in Australia. We report on the investigation of a protracted outbreak of 25 cases of S. Hessarek gastroenteritis in which cases were defined as any laboratory confirmed case of Salmonella Hessarek notified to the South Australian Communicable Disease Control Branch from 1st March 2017 to 3 July 2018

Vascular risk factors in glaucoma: The results of a national survey

Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Volume 245, Issue 6, 1 June 2007, Pages 795-802 Vascular risk factors in glaucoma: The results of a national survey (Article) Orzalesi, N.a , Rossetti, L.a, Omboni, S.b, Sborgia, C.c, Vetrugno, M.c, Cantatore, F.c, Campos, E.d, Baldi, A.d, Quaranta, L.e, Serra, A.f, Zucca, I.f, Mura, M.f, Malocci, M.f, Uva, M.g, Longo, A.g, Lombardo, A.g, Scorcia, G.h, Moschettini, R.h, Gallenga, P.E.i, Mastropasqua, L.i, Ciancaglini, M.i, Carpineto, P.i, Lobefalo, L.i, Perri, P.j, Paduano, B.j, Alfieri, G.k, Menchini, U.k, Campana, F.k, Giansanti, F.k, Delle Noci, N.l, Balducci, F.l, Calabria, G.m, Saccà, S.m, Sanna, G.m, Camicione, P.m, Mastromarino, A.m, Balestrazzi, E.n, Di Staso, S.n, Ferreri, G.o, D’Andrea, A.o, Orzalesi, N.p, Rossetti, L.p, Fogagnolo, P.p, Mazzolani, F.p, Brancato, R.q, Carassa, R.q, Bettin, P.q, Fiori, M.q, Guerra, R.r, Martini, E.r, Scarale, G.r, Campi, L.r, Bonavolontà, G.s, Rinaldi, E.s, Di Meo, A.s, Fusco, R.s, Dorigo, M.T.t, Doro, D.t, Grgic, V.t, Lodato, G.u, Morreale Bubella, D.u, Signorelli, F.u, Gandolfi, S.v, Trimarchi, F.w, Milano, G.w, Fiore, C.x, De Carolis, A.x, Sbordone, G.x, Nardi, M.y, Bartolomei, M.P.y, Figus, M.y, Guidi, G.y, Scullica, L.z, Salgarello, T.z, Colotto, A.z, Bucci, M.G.aa, Cerulli, L.aa, Manni, G.L.aa, Centofanti, M.aa, Parravano, M.aa, Scuderi, G.aa, Nucci, C.aa, Carta, F.ab, Pinna, A.ab, Caporossi, A.ac, Frezzotti, P.ac, Grignolo, F.ad, Brogliatti, B.ad, Rolle, T.ad, Ravalico, G.ae, Vattovani, O.ae, Tritto, D.ae, Canziani, T.ae, Marchini, G.af, Marraffa, M.af, OPTIME Study Group (Osservatorio sulla Patologia glaucomatosa, Indagine Medico Epidemiologica)ag, CONPROSO (Collegio Nazionale dei Professori Ordinari di Scienze Oftalmologiche)ah Hide additional authors a Department of Medicine, Surgery and Odontology, University of Milan, San Paolo Hospital, Milan, Italy b Docleader Srl, Somma Lombardo, VA, Italy c University of Bari, Italy View additional affiliations View references (52) Abstract Background The role of vascular risk factors in glaucoma is still being debated. To assess the importance of vascular risk factors in patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), data from the medical history of 2,879 POAG patients and 973 age-matched controls were collected and analyzed. Methods Design: observational survey. Setting: 35 Italian academic centers. Study population: POAG patients and age-matched controls. In order to reduce bias consecutive patients were included. Observation procedures: data concerning vascular risk factors were collected for all patients with a detailed questionnaire. A complete ophthalmological examination with assessment of intraocular pressure (IOP), visual field, optic disc, and systemic blood pressure was performed. Main outcome measures: the ESH-ESC (European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology) guidelines were used to calculate the level of cardiovascular risk. Crude and adjusted estimates of the odds ratios (OR) were calculated for all cardiovascular risk factors in POAG and controls. Results The study included 2,879 POAG patients and 973 controls. POAG cases had a significantly higher systolic and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.001) and systolic perfusion pressure (p=0.02) as compared with controls. Also mean IOP was significantly higher in the POAG group (p=0.01), while diastolic perfusion pressure was not significantly different in the two groups. Myopia was more prevalent in the POAG group (23 vs 18%, p=0.005) as well as a positive family history for glaucoma (26 vs 12%, p= 0.004). POAG patients tended to have a higher cardiovascular risk than controls: 63% of glaucoma cases vs 55% of controls (OR: 1.38, p=0.005) had a “high” or “very high” cardiovascular risk. Conclusions The level of cardiovascular risk was significantly higher in glaucoma patients than in controls. © Springer-Verlag 2006