Antibiotic-Resistant Salmonella in Turkey Results in Illness and Wrongful Death - CA, IL, MI, OH, PA and TX Hardest Hit
A Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak associated with ground turkey has sickened 77 people in 26 states. The strain of Salmonella Heidelberg involved in this outbreak is resistant to many commonly prescribed antibiotics. This antibiotic resistance increased the severity of infections, resulting in 22 people hospitalized, a high number for a Salmonella outbreak of this size. The antibiotic resistance also led to treatment failure and the death of one Salmonella Heidelberg victim.
When a strain of Salmonella is resistant to several antibiotics, it is called a multidrug-resistant (MDR) strain of Salmonella. The rates of multidrug-resistance in Salmonella have increased considerably in recent years. Salmonella Heidelberg is one of the Salmonella serotypes more prone to develop resistance.
Increased Risk of Infection and Death for Salmonella Heidelberg Victims
Antibiotic-resistant Salmonella Heidelberg can result in any of the following:
- Increased frequency of treatment failure
- Increased severity of infection
- Increased frequency of bloodstream infections
- Increased hospitalization
- Increased mortality.
People with infections caused by antibiotic-resistant Salmonella have been found to be more likely to have bloodstream infection or die within 90 days.1 One study found that the death rate for persons with multidrug-resistant infections was estimated to be 10 times higher in the two years following specimen collection than for the general population.2
What this means is that the Salmonella Heidelberg victims in this outbreak should seek compensation for this increased risk in addition to compensation for medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering and other damages. Contact our attorneys for a free consultation.
The following states are involved in this Salmonella Heidelberg outbreak: Alabama (1), Arizona (2), California (6), Georgia (1), Iowa (1), Illinois (7), Indiana (1), Kentucky (2), Louisiana (1), Massachusetts (1), Michigan (10), Minnesota (1), Missouri (2), Mississippi (1), North Carolina (1), Nebraska (2), Nevada (1), Ohio (10), Oklahoma (1), Oregon (1), Pennsylvania (5), South Dakota(3), Tennessee (2), Texas (9), and Wisconsin (3).
1. Varma, J, et al. Antimicrobial-Resistant Nontyphoidal Salmonella Is Associated with Excess Bloodstream Infections and Hospitalizations. Journal of Infectious Diseases (2005), Volume 191, Issue 4, pp. 554-561.
2. Helms, Morten, et al. Excess Mortality Associated with Antimicrobial Drug-Resistant Salmonella Typhimurium. Emerging Infectious Disease (2002), volume 8(5), pp. 490-495.
