In this MDR outbreak, consumption of cheese and beef were
both associated with illness, indicating that dairy cattle were a likely
source of these infections.
Whole genome sequencing was valuable in linking human
infections to food sources, distinguishing the MDR outbreak strain from
an antibiotic-susceptible strain that was causing a simultaneous
outbreak; and predicting antibiotic resistance. In this outbreak, one in
three patients received an antibiotic that was likely ineffective.
Clinicians should limit use of antibiotics for patients with
an acute diarrheal illness to those with clinical indications, and
antibiotic selection should be based on susceptibility results whenever
possible. For empiric treatment of patients who need antibiotics and are
suspected to have this strain of MDR Newport, clinicians should consider
alternatives to ciprofloxacin and azithromycin, such as ceftriaxone.
Please read the MMWR for
more information.