News scan from August 24, 2021

Two United States Salmonella outbreaks linked to Italian meats

Two foci of Salmonella, a S Typhimurium and the other S Infantis, have been linked to Italian-style meats, although none have yet been linked to a specific product or brand, according to an investigative notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) today.

A total of 36 people in 17 states are affected. The S The Typhimurium epidemic began on May 30 and has so far affected 23 patients, hospitalized 9 patients, and the S. The Infantis epidemic began on May 9 and has so far affected 13 people, hospitalizing 3 patients.

Fourteen of the 16 patients contacted in the S The Typhimurium outbreak reported eating Italian-style meats such as prosciutto and salami, and all 8 people contacted in the S The infantis epidemic signaled the same.

Until a specific product is identified, the CDC recommends that people at high risk of Salmonella (for example, those under 5 or over 65) heat all Italian-style meats until they reach an internal temperature of 165 ° Fahrenheit or are steaming.

Whole genome sequencing has shown that 19 of the 20 available S Typhimurium samples predicted ampicillin resistance, and all predicted resistance to chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline. None of the 12 available S Infantis samples showed predicted antibiotic resistance.
August 24 CDC notification

HPV vaccine linked to lower levels of vaccine virus strains but not to others

A study in JAMA network open yesterday showed lower rates of vaccine strains of human papillomavirus (HPV) infections in girls and young women vaccinated in New York City, but higher rates of some high-risk non-vaccine strains.

The large cohort study followed girls aged 13 to 21 who received the quadrivalent vaccine (four strains) Gardasil over a 12-year period, from 2007 to 2019. A total of 1,453 participants were included, with a average age of 18.2 years, and about half (694 participants) were vaccinated before their first sexual intercourse.

The detection of age-adjusted cervical HPV for vaccine-related types (HPV-6, HPV-11, HPV-16, and HPV-18) was lower year over year, the authors said, while that the prevalence of non-vaccine high-risk HPV types has remained flat or higher. The largest effect sizes were seen in those who had been vaccinated before becoming sexually active (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.81; 95% CI: 0.67-0.98).

Age-adjusted estimates showed a lower prevalence of cervical vaccine types since the introduction of the quadrivalent vaccine, of 9.1% (95% CI, 6.2% to 11.9%) between 2008 and 2010 at 4.7% (95% CI, 1.2% to 8.2%) between 2017 and 2019 in the overall cohort, and 8.8% (95% CI, 1.1% – 16.6%) to 1.7% (95% CI, 0% to 3.7%) in the sub-cohort of girls vaccinated before having sex.

However, the authors observed increasing rates of nonvaccine anal and cervical types, including high-risk HPV types 39, 51, 56, and 68, in study participants.

“The results of our study suggest that post-vaccination rates of non-vaccine high-risk HPV types may be higher in certain high-risk groups. As such, surveillance with HPV testing should be considered. “, concluded the authors.
23 august JAMA Netw Open to study

Chinese farmer hospitalized in critical condition with bubonic plague

Health officials in China’s Inner Mongolia region have reported a case of bubonic plague, involving a woman who works as a herder in Ordos, according to a statement released today by the Health Protection Center (CHP) of Hong Kong.

Her symptoms started on August 14 and the infection was confirmed on August 21. The woman is hospitalized in critical condition. So far, all of his contacts are asymptomatic and have tested negative.

Plague is mainly transmitted to humans through the bites of infected fleas. Yersinia pestis, the bacteria that causes the disease, can also be spread when cuts or cuts in the skin come in contact with bodily fluids or tissue from infected animals. Consumption of infected animals and inhalation of respiratory droplets are other modes of transmission.

Plague cases in neighboring Mongolia were reported in 2019 after a man and his wife ate contaminated groundhog meat. The cases caused quarantine in Ulgii, the town where they lived.
CHP statement of August 24
May 7, 2019, CIDRAP news scan