Excretion ofYersiniaspp. associated with consumption of pasteurized milk

Abstract

SUMMARYYersinia enterocoliticabiotype 1, serotype O.10K was isolated from 19 patients in the paediatric wards of a district general hospital over a period of 3 months. Fifteen cases were patients on the medical ward. Shortly afterwards.Y. enterocoliticabiotype 1, serotype 0.6,30 was isolated from a further 17 patients on this ward in 1 month. The same serotypes ofY. enterocoliticawere isolated from the pasteurized milk supplied to the ward. Epidemiological evidence indicated that contaminated pasteurized milk was the source of the yersinia organisms exereted by the patients.