Document Detail


Outbreaks of food borne diseases in the Lazio region, Italy: the results of epidemiological field investigations.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  12952146     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: More thorough information about risks, exposures and vehicles of food borne diseases can be obtained from epidemiological field investigations than from infectious disease reports or laboratory data. METHODS: We analysed the results of 410 field investigations of food borne disease outbreaks reported from 1996 to 2000 and conducted as cohort studies. RESULTS: The incidence of food borne outbreaks increased from 0.8/100,000 in 1996 to 2.0 in 1999, as did the incidence of salmonellosis (from 16/100,000 to 21 in the same period) and diarrhoea episodes reported by laboratories (from 12/100,000 in 1997 to 29 in 1999). Of the food borne disease outbreaks, 264 (64.4%) occurred in private homes; 5 (1.2%) in hospitals; 31 (7.6%) in canteens and refectories, 84 (20.5%) in restaurants, 41 of which occurred during special functions. The home outbreaks exposed few people (average of 7), had high attack rates (61.7% average) and a high proportion of known aetiology (66%), while food borne disease outbreaks in canteens and restaurants (during special functions) exposed many people (300 and 81, respectively), had medium attack rates (19.7 and 34.5%, respectively) and a higher proportion of confirmed vehicles (50 and 49%, respectively), compared to those occurring at home (21%). Salmonella spp. was the most frequent agent detected in each setting (67% of confirmed cases). The most frequent vehicles at home were mushrooms and sweets containing eggs and cream; in canteens, meat and vegetables and in restaurants, shellfish. CONCLUSIONS: Outbreak characteristics varied according to the setting. This implies the need for a different approach of field investigations, and different preventive measures.
Authors:
A Faustini; P Giorgi Rossi; C A Perucci;
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  European journal of epidemiology     Volume:  18     ISSN:  0393-2990     ISO Abbreviation:  Eur. J. Epidemiol.     Publication Date:  2003  
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2003-09-03     Completed Date:  2003-11-17     Revised Date:  2009-11-19    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  8508062     Medline TA:  Eur J Epidemiol     Country:  Netherlands    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  699-702     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Local Health Unit RME, Rome, Italy. malinf1@asplazio.it
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Agaricales
Cohort Studies
Dairy Products / microbiology
Diarrhea / epidemiology,  microbiology
Disease Notification
Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data*
Eggs / microbiology
Epidemiologic Studies
Food Microbiology
Food Service, Hospital / statistics & numerical data
Foodborne Diseases / epidemiology*,  microbiology
Humans
Incidence
Italy / epidemiology
Meat / microbiology
Needs Assessment
Questionnaires
Restaurants / statistics & numerical data
Risk Factors
Salmonella Food Poisoning / epidemiology,  microbiology
Seasons
Shellfish / microbiology
Vegetables / microbiology

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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