The Kane County Health Department said Tuesday it is investigating an outbreak of a form of salmonella poisoning, possibly linked to a Portillo’s restaurant in St. Charles.

In approximately the past two weeks, 10 cases of Salmonella ser. Typhimurium with a matching PFGE, or genetic, pattern have been reported In Illinois. This pattern is rare in Illinois. At least two additional cases of S. Typhimurium are pending the PFGE results. Cases in other states have also been identified.

The Kane Health Department said a common potential link is that seven of the people affected reported having eaten at Portillo’s at 3895 E. Main St. in St. Charles during April. No specific food item has been identified to be source of the illness.

The management of Portillo’s is actively cooperating with state and local health officials in the investigation, the Kane department said. The restaurant was sanitized overnight Monday and is having all its food handlers tested for possible infection.

Translated by Albert Amgar

Les produits de pâtisseries tels que les gâteaux à la crème comme les tartes à la crème et les éclairs au chocolat sont souvent impliqués dans des intoxications alimentaires à Staphylococcus aureus.

Une analyse a révélé la présence de Staphylococcus aureus dans des produits de la pâtisserie Rolf

Une pâtisserie de Lincolnwood dans l’Illinois a été à l’origine de quatre foyers d’intoxications alimentaires à staphylocoque en novembre et décembre 2010. Ces foyers liés au travail du traiteur, ont rendu au moins 100 personnes malades. La pâtisserie Rolf, l'entreprise en cause, a fermé ses portes et a rappelé un certain nombre de produits vendus au détail pour limiter de nouvelles maladies.

Les cas ont été liés à la consommation de pâtisseries dans un restaurant ou autre. Des prélèvements d'aliments analysés par les autorités sanitaires locales ont confirmé la présence de Staphylococcus aureus. La pâtisserie a réouvert après avoir écarté tous les ingrédients alimentaires, un nettoyage et désinfection intensif de l'installation, et, une nouvelle formation des personnels aux bonnes pratiques d'hygiène.

Staphylococcus aureus peut se développer dans des aliments riches en protéines, à faible teneur acide (comme les pâtisseries fourrées à la crème) et conservés à température ambiante. Lorsque les bactéries croissent, elles créent des toxines entraînant diarrhée, nausée, vomissements et crampes abdominales lorsqu'elles sont consommées. L’apparition des symptômes peut être très rapide, près d’une heure après consommation des aliments contaminés.

Staphylococcus aureus est souvent retrouvé sur la peau humaine. Les épidémies dans les pâtisseries sont souvent liées à une mauvaise hygiène personnelle, des équipements contaminés et des températures insuffisantes.

QUE POUVEZ-VOUS FAIRE ?
• AYEZ UNE BONNE HYGIENE PERSONNELLE
• NETTOYER ET DÉSINFECTER UN EQUIPEMENT APRÈS SON UTILISATION POUR LIMITER LA CONTAMINATION DES ALIMENTS
• CONSERVER AU FROID LES PÂTISSERIES À LA CRÊME LORS DU STOCKAGE ET DU TRANSPORT
POUR PLUS D’INFORMATION, CONTACTEZ BEN CHAPMAN, BENJAMIN_CHAPMAN@NCSU.EDU OU DOUG POWELL, DPOWELL@KSU.EDU
 

Sucks to be in public health in Illinois these days. Maybe there’s sprouts on cupcakes in some new foodie trend.

The Illinois Dept. of Public Health announced today that over 100 people in at least four separate outbreaks have been sickened with Staphylococcus aureus after dining on desserts from Rolf's Patisserie, a wholesale and retail sales bakery in Lincolnwood, just outside Chicago. No mention of the outbreaks on the company website.

Some became ill after eating the desserts at an unnamed restaurant while others were sickened after a holiday party, a catered party or company event.

Initial laboratory tests shows one food item to be contaminated with high levels of, a bacteria that produces toxins in foods that can make people ill. The bacteria can spread if a person with a staph infection has an uncovered lesion or sore that comes in contact with food or food processing equipment, the release said.
 

Did the Sponge Bob leafy greens cone of silence descend on Illinois health types as they concluded in a 69-page report published today that lettuce, tomatoes and olives were the possible culprits in a Subway salmonella outbreak that sickened almost 200 earlier this year?

Pantagraph.com reported today that officials with the Illinois Department of Public Health traced a salmonella outbreak at Subway restaurants to one Central Illinois food distributor, but in a final report on the incident issued Thursday, could not identify the exact source of the problem, which led to 109 confirmed cases and another 90-plus probable or suspect cases of the illness between late April and June.

In the 69-page report, investigators said the “most likely source” of the lettuce, tomatoes and olives linked to the illnesses was Lincoln-based Sysco Central Illinois Inc., which delivered produce to the affected restaurants.

Samples collected at the company’s distribution facility in June, after many of the victims had already contracted the illness, were tested and found negative for salmonella.

Areas that may have been the source of salmonella may have been washed down and produce that was affected may have been discarded.

The report, which will be forwarded to the federal Centers for Disease Control, shows that 299 Subway restaurants were forced to dispose of their produce during the event.

More than 480 workers at the stores had to be tested. A dozen of them were found to be positive for the strain of salmonella.