In the news

The FDA announced on its website that CATSMO LLC. Of Wallkill, NY, recalled Cold Smoked Salmon because it has the potential to be contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes. The recalled product was distributed in 11 states through retail stores and direct delivery as follows: NY, CT, NJ, MN, NC, FL, VA, MA, IL, PA, and Washington D.C. The product comes in a vacuum-sealed plastic package in whole fillets, specialty cuts, 4 oz., 8oz., or 1lb. sizes and are either plain or flavored. No illnesses have been reported to date in connection with this issue. The potential for contamination is a result of a routine FDA environmental sampling and analysis. Out of an abundance of caution, the company has decided to conduct an extensive corrective action plan and verification program so production can resume as soon as possible. @ https://www.fda.gov/safety/recalls-market-withdrawals-safety-alerts/catsmo-llc-recalls-smoked-salmon-because-possible-health-risk?utm_campaign=CATSMO%20LLC.%20Recalls%20Smoked%20Salmon%20Because%20of%20Possible%20Health%20Risk&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

The FDA released the 2018 Summary Report on Antimicrobials Sold or Distributed for Use in Food-Producing Animals. The report shows that domestic sales and distribution of medically important antimicrobials for use in food-producing animals increased by 9% between 2017 and 2018. Despite this increase, 2018 is the second-lowest year on record. The overall the trend continues of ongoing efforts to support antimicrobial stewardship are having an impact. Sales in 2018 are down 21% since 2009, the first year of reporting, and down 38% since 2015, the peak year of sales and distribution. Tetracyclines represent the largest volume of these domestic sales (3,974,179 kg in 2018), which increased by 12% from 2017 through 2018. Of the 2018 domestic sales and distribution, Tetracyclines accounted for 66%, penicillins for 12%, macrolides for 8%, sulfas for 5%, aminoglycosides for 5%, lincosamides for 2%, cephalosporins for 1%, and fluoroquinolones for less than 1%.  Of the antibiotics used, an estimated 42% used in cattle, 39% for swine, 11% for turkeys, 4% for chickens, and 4% for use in other species/unknown. While progress was made toward antimicrobial stewardship goals, additional work is needed to address antimicrobial resistance. @ https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/cvm-updates/fda-releases-annual-summary-report-antimicrobials-sold-or-distributed-2018-use-food-producing?utm_campaign=12-10-2019-ADUFA105&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

An article published in PNAS (December 2019) unveils the resistance mechanism in Enterococcus faecalis. The research has identified a protein (LiaX) that is released by the bacteria cells when it senses antimicrobial molecules. LiaX regulates changes in CM phospholipid architecture, to prevent the drug from destroying it. Targeting this response in multidrug-resistant organisms may be a therapeutic intervention to restore susceptibility to cell envelope-targeting antibiotics and increase the ability of the immune system to clear pathogens. LiaX is the master modulator of resistance. It tells the bacteria to remodel their protective cell envelope, causing Daptomycin (a naturally-occurring lipopeptide antibiotic that kills susceptible gram positive bacteria) to bind away from the septum and allowing the cell to survive. @ https://www.pnas.org/content/early/2019/12/05/1916037116

CDC, public health and regulatory officials in several states, and FDA are investigating a multistate outbreak of E. coli O157:H7. This investigation includes illnesses in Canada recently reported by the Public Health Agency of Canada. Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp Chopped Salad Kits have been linked to the outbreak. This outbreak was caused by a different strain of E. coli O157:H7 than the current romaine lettuce from the Salinas, growing region in California. WGS showed that bacteria isolated from ill people in the United States and Canada are closely related genetically, meaning that there is a common source of infection. As of December 9, 2019, a total of eight people infected with the outbreak strain of E. coli O157:H7 and three were hospitalized (one with HUS) from three states (Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota). No deaths have been reported. Data indicates that Fresh Express Sunflower Crisp chopped salad kits are a likely source of this outbreak. The ingredient that causes the illness is still under investigation. @ https://www.cdc.gov/ecoli/2019/o157h7-12-19/index.html