Hospital-acquired listeriosis linked to a persistently contaminated milkshake machine

• Published in: Epidemiology and infection Vol. 145; no. 5; pp. 857 - 863
• Main Authors: MAZENGIA, E., KAWAKAMI, V., RIETBERG, K., KAY, M., WYMAN, P., SKILTON, C., ABERRA, A., BOONYARATANAKORNKIT, J., LIMAYE, A. P., PERGAM, S. A., WHIMBEY, E., OLSEN-SCRIBNER, R. J., DUCHIN, J. S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01-04-2017
• Subjects: Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - microbiology; Environmental Microbiology; Female; Food Handling; Foodborne Diseases - epidemiology; Foodborne Diseases - microbiology; Genotype; Heart transplants; Hospitalization; Hospitals; Humans; Ice cream; Infections; Listeria; Listeria monocytogenes - classification; Listeria monocytogenes - genetics; Listeria monocytogenes - isolation & purification; Listeriosis - epidemiology; Listeriosis - microbiology; Male; Medical laboratories; Middle Aged; Molecular Typing; Nozzles; Pathogens; Patients; Questionnaires; SHORT REPORT; United States > US; Hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections; milkshake machine; Listeria; listeriosis
• ISSN: 0950-2688; 1469-4409
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268816003198

One case of hospital-acquired listeriosis was linked to milkshakes produced in a commercial-grade shake freezer machine. This machine was found to be contaminated with a strain of Listeria monocytogenes epidemiologically and molecularly linked to a contaminated pasteurized, dairy-based ice cream product at the same hospital a year earlier, despite repeated cleaning and sanitizing. Healthcare facilities should be aware of the potential for prolonged Listeria contamination of food service equipment. In addition, healthcare providers should consider counselling persons who have an increased risk for Listeria infections regarding foods that have caused Listeria infections. The prevalence of persistent Listeria contamination of commercial-grade milkshake machines in healthcare facilities and the risk associated with serving dairy-based ice cream products to hospitalized patients at increased risk for invasive L. monocytogenes infections should be further evaluated.