“Physicians don’t normally do a blood culture.”
Dr. Bob BortolussiThe human toll of Canada’s listeria outbreak may be larger than officials have reported, a Toronto Star/CBC investigation has found.
Public health authorities across Canada have confirmed 20 deaths linked to listeria-tainted Maple Leaf cold cuts. But a lack of testing for the bacteria in nursing homes and hospitals during the outbreak could mean many other deaths were overlooked.
In one case, blood tests have been denied to Mississauga nursing home residents even though one resident died of listeria and at least one other is sick. Four other listeria cases, including two deaths, were discovered in other residences of the same nursing home chain, but no additional tests were ordered in those homes.
“The number of deaths could be higher if the investigations weren’t done to determine whether or not there was listeria in the blood stream,” says Dr. Bob Bortolussi, an infectious disease specialist in Halifax.
“Physicians normally don’t do a blood culture. Blood cultures are only done if there are severe enough symptoms to warrant.”
