Posted June 5, 2014 12:00 PM ET

June 5, 2014

CDC collaborated with public health officials in several states to investigate human Salmonella Typhimurium infections linked to exposure to various clinical and college and university teaching microbiology laboratories. Public health investigators used the PulseNet system to identify cases of illness that may be linked to microbiology laboratory exposure. PulseNet, the national subtyping network of public health and food regulatory agency laboratories coordinated by CDC, obtains DNA fingerprints of Salmonella bacteria through diagnostic testing with pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, or PFGE. These strains of Salmonella Typhimurium were indistinguishable by PFGE pattern from commercially available Salmonella Typhimurium strains used in laboratory settings for teaching or quality control purposes. These commercially available strains are known to be present in several teaching laboratories associated with ill persons.

A total of 41 persons infected with the same strains of Salmonella Typhimurium were reported from several states since November 1, 2013, including Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.

Among the persons who reported the date they became ill, illnesses began between November 1, 2013 and May 3, 2014. Ill persons ranged in age from younger than 1 year to 87 years, and the median age was 20 years. Sixty-two percent of ill persons were 21 years or younger. Seventy-six percent of ill persons were female. Among 28 ill persons with available information, 10 (36%) were hospitalized. No deaths were reported.

In interviews, ill persons answered questions about different exposures in the week before becoming ill. Eighteen (86%) of 21 ill persons interviewed reported being enrolled in either a human biology course or microbiology course. Fifteen (83%) of these 18 ill persons were students, and three (22%) were employees. Many ill persons reported several behaviors while they were working in the laboratory that would increase the risk of acquiring a Salmonella infection, including not wearing gloves or lab coats, lack of handwashing, and using the same writing utensils and notebooks outside of the laboratory. Additionally, many ill persons did not recall receiving laboratory safety training.

In 2011, a total of 109 illnesses with one of these same strains of Salmonella Typhimurium were linked to exposure to clinical and teaching microbiology laboratories. Findings of that investigation indicated that teaching and clinical microbiology laboratory instructors should enhance training of students and staff on biosafety measures necessary in the laboratory. For more specific guidance documents, see the Key Resources page.