Carmine as a Source of Nosocomial Salmonellosis

Abstract

INVESTIGATION of infections with Salmonella cubana that appeared to have been contracted by patients in the hospital called our attention to carmine dye as a source of the etiologic agent. Our experience is reported in order that future infections may be prevented.Carmine, a nonabsorbable bright-red dye that is manufactured from insects originally indigenous to Central America, has been widely used as a fecal dye marker. Contamination of carmine has further relevance to public health since this dye is used to color certain foods, drugs and cosmetics.Our findings suggest in addition that the contaminating bacterium, S. cubana, is not . . .