Epidemiologic Notes and Reports
Listeriosis Associated with Consumption of Turkey Franks
Microbiologic implication of meat as a source of clinical
listeriosis
has not previously been documented. In December 1988, a woman with
cancer was hospitalized in Oklahoma with sepsis caused by Listeria
monocytogenes (LM). LM was isolated from an open package of
Plantation
Brand turkey franks from the patient's refrigerator. The patient
had
eaten one turkey frank daily heated in a microwave oven. LM was
also
isolated from two unopened packages of Plantation Brand turkey
franks
from a local store. Cultures of other foods in the patient's
refrigerator were positive for LM; however, unopened samples of
those
foods were negative for LM.
LM isolates from the patient and from the opened and unopened
packages
of franks were confirmed at CDC as serotype 1/2a with the same
electrophoretic enzyme type. On April 14, 1989, the company
voluntarily
recalled the franks, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture began
an
investigation of the processing plant.
Multiple products from the patient's refrigerator grew LM of the
same
serotype and enzyme type, suggesting cross-contamination;
therefore,
isolation of LM from opened packages is not sufficient to identify
the
source of infection. Isolation from unopened products implicates
the
source of infection with greater certainty.
An epidemiologic study of dietary risk factors for sporadic cases
of
listeriosis previously implicated consumption of uncooked hot dogs
and
undercooked chicken (1); in that study, no microbiologic specimens
were
obtained.
LM causes 1700 cases of meningitis and sepsis in the United States
each
year, with a case-fatality rate of 25%. Listeriosis usually occurs
in
pregnant women or immunosuppressed persons. Such persons who have
eaten
this brand of turkey franks and are not ill do not need treatment.
Persons who have eaten this food and develop fever, severe
headache, or
muscle aches should consult their physicians.
Reported by: R Barnes, P Archer, MPH, J Strack, GR Istre, MD, State
Epidemiologist, Oklahoma State Dept of Health. Meningitis and
Special
Pathogens Br, Div of Bacterial Diseases, Center for Infectious
Diseases, CDC.
Reference
Schwartz B, Cielsielski C, Broome CV, et al. Dietary risk
factors
for sporadic listeriosis: association with consumption of uncooked
hot
dogs and undercooked chicken. Lancet 1988;2:779-82.
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