Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has revolutionized surveillance of infectious diseases. Disease outbreaks can now be detected with high precision, and correct attribution of infection sources has been improved. Listeriosis, caused by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes, is a foodborne disease with a high case fatality rate and a large proportion of outbreak-related cases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEmerg Microbes Infect
December 2022
Invasive listeriosis, caused by , is a severe foodborne infection, especially for immunocompromised individuals. The aim of our investigation was the identification and analysis of listeriosis outbreaks in Germany with smoked and graved salmon products as the most likely source of infection using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and patient interviews. In a national surveillance programme, WGS was used for subtyping and core genome multi locus sequence typing (cgMLST) for cluster detection of isolates from listeriosis cases as well as food and environmental samples in Germany.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe used 10 years of surveillance data to describe listeriosis frequency in Germany. Altogether, 5,576 cases were reported, 91% not pregnancy associated; case counts increased over time. Case-fatality rate was 13% in non-pregnancy-associated cases, most in adults ≥65 years of age.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjectives: Invasive listeriosis is a severe foodborne infection caused by Listeria(L.)monocytogenes. The aim of this investigation was to verify and describe a molecular cluster of listeriosis patients and identify factors leading to this outbreak.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDue to its high case fatality rate, foodborne listeriosis is considered a major public health concern worldwide. We describe one of the largest listeriosis outbreaks in Germany with 83 cases of invasive listeriosis between 2013 and 2018. As part of the outbreak investigation, we identified a highly diverse population at a single producer of ready-to-eat meat products.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInvasive listeriosis is a severe foodborne infection in humans and is difficult to control. Listeriosis incidence is increasing worldwide, but some countries have implemented molecular surveillance programs to improve recognition and management of listeriosis outbreaks. In Germany, routine whole-genome sequencing, core genome multilocus sequence typing, and single nucleotide polymorphism calling are used for subtyping of Listeria monocytogenes isolates from listeriosis cases and suspected foods.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEurope received an increased number of migrants in 2015. Housing in inadequate mass accommodations (MA) made migrants prone to infectious disease outbreaks. In order to enhance awareness for infectious diseases (ID) and to detect clusters early, we developed and evaluated a syndromic surveillance system in three MA with medical centres in Berlin, Germany.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report an ongoing, protracted and geographically dispersed outbreak of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) and gastroenteritis in Germany, involving 30 cases since December 2016. The outbreak was caused by the sorbitol-fermenting immotile variant of Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) Escherichia coli O157. Molecular typing revealed close relatedness between isolates from 14 cases.
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