Abstract

BACKGROUND
this article summarises the results of eight years (2002-2009) of investigations on food borne disease outbreaks carried out the Regional Agency for Public Health in Piedmont, which is an Italian Region (4,432,571 citizens, 2008).
METHODS
the investigations were conducted as cohort studies supported by laboratory analysis of: food and patients. The data were reported by general practitioners and hospital physicians, and were collected, evaluated and recorded in 22 Hospitals.
RESULTS
it recorded 803 outbreaks of food borne disease, of which 177 mushroom outbreaks with 318 ill people and 499 outbreaks for all the others agents with 3,381 ill people. The maximum prevalence was 15.7/100,000 (2004). The most important causes for numbers of ill people have been (2002-2009): salmonellosis (34%, 1,250/3,699), mushroom poisoning (9%, 318/3,699), Escherichia coli (8%, 228/3,699), Staphyilococcus (6%, 209/3,699), virus (5%, 198/3,699), Clostridium perfringens (4%, 154/3,699), Bacillus cereus (2.1%, 76/3,699), scombrotoxin (1.8%, 65/3,699). 303 out of 304 mushrooms outbreaks occurred from consumers that picking mushrooms themselves to eat in private homes and for all others agents: 57% of 499 the outbreaks occurred in private homes, 27% in restaurants, 6% in canteens, but 39% of 3,381 ill people had eaten in restaurants and other public food facilities, 32% in private homes and 24% in canteens. After mushrooms the eggs (75 outbreaks) were the most important food recognized.
CONCLUSION
the theoretical maximum prevalence which can be hypothesized with this data in Piedmont (2002-2009) is 141/100,000 (sum of the maximum prevalence recorded at least in one Piedmont Hospital district).

Authors

Zicari G, Gorrasi I, Di Gioia S, Rossi MV, Traversi D, Rivetti D, Soardo V, Cerrato E, Carraro E, Gilli G, Ferrari P, Magliola R

Institution

giuzic@tin.it

Source

Igiene e sanità pubblica 67:6 pg 721-42

MeSH

Bacillus cereus
Clostridium Infections
Cohort Studies
Disease Outbreaks
Escherichia coli Infections
Food Handling
Food Preservation
Foodborne Diseases
Humans
Italy
Marine Toxins
Medical Records
Mushroom Poisoning
Population Surveillance
Prevalence
Public Health
Risk Assessment
Risk Factors
Salmonella Food Poisoning
Staphylococcal Food Poisoning

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Multicenter Study

Language

eng

PubMed ID

22508645