. Enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from ice-cream and human cases were of the same spa-type
(t127),
harboured the sea gene and displayed identical phenotypic resistance-,
Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy- (FT-IR) and microarray-profiles.
Despite the strong microbiological and epidemiological evidence of ice-cream being the incriminated food vehicle of the outbreak,
a common source of S. aureus from the icecream could not be deduced.
As none of the employees carried the outbreak strain, either the equipment used
for the production of the ice-cream or a contaminated ingredient is the most likely introduction source.