CDC Report on Food Pathogen Surveillance via FoodNet 2018

CDC released a report Preliminary Incidence and Trends of Infections with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly Through Food — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 10 U.S. Sites, 2015–2018 (MMWR Weekly / April 26, 2019 / 68(16);369–373) that shows the incidence of most infections increased during 2018 compared with 2015–2017, 'although it is probably do to automated (non-cultrure or culture independent) methods' [so the incidence is probably not rising, but rather the ability to detect allows investigators to determine cause] (The number of bacterial infections diagnosed by CIDT (with or without reflex culture )increased 65% in 2018 compared with the average annual number diagnosed during 2015–2017).

Basically, "The incidence of Cyclospora infections increased markedly, in part related to large outbreaks associated with produce. The number of human infections caused by Campylobacter and Salmonella, especially serotype Enteritidis, remains high."

• Poultry is a major source of Campylobacter
• The incidence of infections with Enteritidis, the most common Salmonella serotype, has not declined in over 10 years. Enteritidis is adapted to live in poultry, and eggs are an important source of infection.
• Produce is a major source of foodborne illnesses (2). During 2018, romaine lettuce was linked to two multistate outbreaks of STEC O157 infections (8). The marked increase in reported Cyclospora infections was likely attributable to several factors including produce outbreaks and continued adoption of DNA-based syndrome panel tests