FoodNet 2012 CID Supplement

FoodNet in 2012 – A Foundation for Food Safety in the United States: FoodNet’s high quality, nationally coordinated surveillance is important for public health and policy. The CID supplement was developed to go beyond FoodNet annual reports.

Calculating a Measure of Overall Change in the Incidence of Selected Laboratory-Confirmed Infections with Pathogens Transmitted Commonly through Food, Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), 1996–2010.

• The overall frequency of illnesses caused by Campylobacter, Listeria, Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O157, Yersinia and Vibrio was 23% lower in 2010 than in 1996-1998. However, a decrease in incidence between 2006-2008 and 2010 of 3% indicates that progress has slowed recently.

Gender Differences in Food Consumption: FoodNet Population Survey, 2006-2007.

• More men than women ate meat, and more women than men ate vegetables and fruits. Men were more likely to have consumed “high-risk” foods, such as undercooked hamburger, raw oysters and runny eggs. But only one high-risk food, alfalfa sprouts, was more frequently consumed by women.

Characteristics of Foodborne Disease Outbreak Investigations Conducted by FoodNet Sites, 2003–2008.

• The food vehicle was determined in 32% of FoodNet outbreak investigations, although the etiology (bacteria or virus responsible for the outbreak) was found in 60% of outbreak investigations. Investigations that were not successful in determining the food or cause of the outbreak had too few patients ill, too few stool specimens to test or too few control subjects.

Assessment of Physician Knowledge and Practices Concerning STEC Infection and Enteric Illness, 2009, FoodNet.

• Physicians were surveyed to measure their knowledge about Shiga toxin—producing E. coli (STEC) infections. The survey found that physician knowledge of STEC was low, showing a need for educational interventions to help ensure that physicians correctly identify, report, and treat cases of this foodborne illness.

Changing epidemiology of Yersinia enterocolitica infections: markedly decreased rates in young black children, FoodNet, 1996-2009.

• The number of Yersinia enterocolitica infections reported in FoodNet sites significantly decreased from 1996 to 2009. The biggest decrease was in young black children in Georgia, possibly a result of an educational campaign targeted to high-risk groups. The campaign included pamphlets on safe preparation and handling of chitterlings, particularly during the winter months and holidays.

Travel-Associated Enteric Infections Diagnosed After Return to the United States, Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), 2004–2009.

• Campylobacter is the most common cause of foodborne illness in travelers returning to the United States from overseas. Over half of all travel associated infections reported were in travelers to Latin America and the Caribbean. However, travel to Africa carried the greatest risk of travel associated infection (75.9 cases per 100,000 travelers).

Estimates of Enteric Illness Attributable to Contact with Animals and Their Environments in the United States.

• Fourteen percent of all illnesses (445,213 annually) caused by the 7 most common foodborne diseases are attributable to contact with animals: direct contact with wild animals, pets, and other animals, as well as indirect contact with the animal’s feces, bodily fluids or its environment. Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Cryptosporidium caused the majority of illnesses, hospitalizations and deaths attributed to contact with animals and their environments.

Invasive Listeriosis in Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 2004–2009: Further Targeted Prevention Needed for Higher-Risk Groups.

• There was no significant change in the incidence of listeriosis from 2004 to 2009. Increasing prevention efforts such as food safety education among pregnant women, especially those who are Hispanic, and older adults are recommended to substantially decrease overall rates of listeriosis.

Relative Risk of Listeriosis in Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) Sites According to Age, Pregnancy and Ethnicity.

• Older adults and pregnant women, especially Hispanics, have a higher risk of invasive diseases caused by Listeria infections, including bloodstream infection, meningitis, and miscarriage and stillbirth. Among older adults, the risk of invasive listeriosis increases as people get older.

Increasing Rates of Vibriosis in the United States: Review of Surveillance Data from Two Systems, 1996-2010.

• The frequency of Vibriosis illness increased from 1996 to 2010, according to data from both Vibrio and FoodNet surveillance systems. More effective prevention efforts such as measures to inform the public about the hazards of raw shellfish consumption and measures to decrease contamination of oysters are recommended to decrease rates of vibriosis.

Population-Based Active Surveillance for Cyclospora Infection – United States, FoodNet, 1997–2009.

• This report summarizes FoodNet data regarding laboratory-confirmed cases of Cyclospora infection during 1997-2009. While the number of Cyclospora infections reported varied markedly from year to year, the reported cases were concentrated in time (spring and summer) and place (Connecticut and Georgia).

Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Shigella Isolates in FoodNet Sites, 2000–2010.

• This article describes antibiotic resistance patterns of Shigella samples submitted to FoodNet sites. Resistance to commonly used antibiotics is high. Although most cases of shigellosis can be managed without antibiotics, it may be more difficult to treat severe infections if Shigella isolates are becoming resistant to commonly used antibiotics.

Salmonella enterica Serotype Enteritidis: Increasing Incidence of Domestically Acquired Infections.

• Infections from Salmonella serotype Enteritidis are a growing problem in the United States. Chicken and eggs are likely major sources.

Impacts of Culture-Independent Diagnostic Practices on Public Health Surveillance for Bacterial Enteric Pathogens.

• Culture-independent testing is becoming a more common way to diagnose foodborne diseases, and with it comes challenges and opportunities for public health agencies, clinical laboratories and industry. This report summarizes these challenges and opportunities, and suggests strategies that can be adopted to ensure that surveillance data continues to be accurate. Some of the strategies suggested for public health agencies include collecting information on testing methods used, regularly surveying clinical laboratories regarding testing practices, and conducting validation studies.

Clinical Laboratory Practices for the Isolation and Identification of Campylobacter in FoodNet Sites: Baseline Information for Understanding Changes in Surveillance Data.

• This study highlights the need to develop recommendations for best practices for Campylobacter diagnostic testing. Although most laboratories are using culture-based methods to identify Campylobacter infections, procedures differ widely and most labs do not adhere to existing guidelines, likely resulting in under-diagnosis.