Weekly releases (1997–2007) - Volume 12, Issue 42, 18 October 2007

Extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing (ESBL) Enterobacteriaceae are an emerging problem with global spread imposing new challenges in treatment and infection control. In Europe, ESBL are now found not only in healthcare settings, but also increasingly in the communitY.

The Swedish Institute for Infectious Disease Control (SMI) and the Swedish Regional Centres for Communicable Disease Control recently completed the investigation of a nationwide outbreak with 51 cases of Salmonella Stanley infection. A matched case-control study (using telephone interviews) was performed that strongly indicated an association between consumption of alfalfa sprouts produced in Sweden and S. Stanley infection (OR 28.6, 95% CI 3.8-216.4).

On 21 August 2007, a hospital in Barcelona, Spain, informed local health authorities in Girona of the occurrence of an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness among three families who had eaten lunch at a hotel in Lloret de Mar on 14 August 2007.

An intergovernmental meeting sponsored by the World Health Organization (WHO), to which all 193 WHO member states are invited, will take place in Geneva from November 20 to 23 to discuss the issues around the sharing of influenza virus samples.