During 2022, an outbreak of salmonellosis occurred in the Geriatrico Arago home located in Barcelona.  In this outbreak, 39 residents were infected with 15 hospitalizations and 8 fatalities.

The outbreak has become a political issue with questions raised as to the efficiency of the public health authority Agencia de Salut Publica in Barcelona, extending over the period July through December 2022.  Violations were noted in the kitchen of the facility with respect to cleaning and the employment of non-credentialed supervisors. Additional deficiencies were noted on successive visits.

Public health records confirm that during 2022, there were 258 outbreaks of salmonellosis involving 1,332 cases with 175 hospitalizations in Spain.  Eggs and derived products were associated with close to 100 of the outbreaks, suggesting widespread contamination of locks and plants with Salmonella Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis.  This denotes a major deficiency in the national and provincial egg quality assurance programs.  This is especially serious given that Spain is an exporter of shell eggs.