Outbreak of Salmonella enterica serotype Poona in infants linked to persistent Salmonella contamination in an infant formula manufacturing facility, France, August 2018 to February 2019

摘要

We describe a Salmonella Poona outbreak involving 31 infant cases in France. Following outbreak detection on 18 January 2019, consumption of rice-based infant formula manufactured at a facility in Spain was identified as the probable cause, leading to a recall on 24 January. Whole genome sequencing analysis linked present outbreak isolates to a 2010–11 S. Poona outbreak in Spain associated with formula manufactured in the same facility, indicating a persistent source of contamination. Keywords: Salmonella , powdered infant formula, outbreak, Poona, whole genome sequencing, France, persistent contaminationOutbreak alertOn 18 January 2019, a cluster of four isolates of Salmonella enterica serotype Poona ( S . Poona) was identified in infants under 1 year of age. The isolates were received from 20–24 December 2018 at the French National Reference Centre for Escherichia coli, Shigella and Salmonella (NRC-ESS, Institut Pasteur). Initial investigations identified consumption of the same brand of rice-based powdered infant formula (Brand A formula). On 21 January 2019, the Directorate of the Ministry of Economy in charge of consumers’ affairs (DGCCRF) identified that the Brand A formula had been manufactured at a single production facility in Spain, Facility X. After additional isolates of S . Poona in infants consuming Brand A formula were identified, the French distributer initiated a recall of all Brand A formula manufactured at Facility X on 24 January (Figure 1) [1]. Open in a separate windowFigure 1 Timeline of outbreak alert and initial investigations of Salmonella enterica serotype Poona infections associated with consumption of infant formula, France, 18 January–12 February 2019EPIS: Epidemic Intelligence Information System; EWRS: Early Warning and Response System: NRC-ESS: National Reference Centre- Escherichia coli , Shigella and Salmonella ; RASFF: Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed.Case interviews were conducted with the parents/guardians on behalf of the infant cases.