FDA closes investigation into Listeria outbreak; continues its work on the infant botulism epidemic

The Food and Drug Administration has closed an investigation into an outbreak of Listeria infections without finding the source of the pathogen.

The agency first reported the outbreak on September 17. Eight patients have been confirmed in the outbreak, but the FDA has not said where they live, their ages or whether any of them required hospitalization or died.

The FDA initiated a tracing process during its investigation, but did not disclose which foods were traced. Likewise, the agency conducted an on-site inspection and sample testing, but did not disclose which location was inspected or what was tested.

Additionally, an outbreak of infant botulism attributed to ByHeart powdered baby formula continues. As of this week, there are 15 confirmed patients spread across 12 states. However, the company was informed that there had been 84 cases of infant botulism since August.

ByHeart has recalled all of its powdered infant formulas. The California Department of Public Health discovered the same strain of botulism that sickens babies in a sample of ByHeart formula collected from a patient’s home.

Infantile botulism is a rare but serious disease that occurs when Clostridium botulinum spores are ingested and then colonize the intestinal tract, producing botulinum neurotoxins in the immature intestine of infants. Affected infants may have some or all of the following signs and symptoms: constipation, poor feeding, ptosis (drooping eyelid), sluggish pupils, low muscle tone, difficulty sucking and swallowing, weak or altered cries, generalized weakness, difficulty breathing, and possible respiratory arrest. If your child has any of these symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately.

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