Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T12:43:58.430Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The role of the pre-symptomatic food handler in a common source outbreak of food-borne SRSV gastroenteritis in a group of hospitals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2009

S. V. Lo ,
A. M. Connolly ,
S. R. Palmer ,
D. Wright ,
P. D. Thomas  and
D. Joynson
S. V. Lo
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Medicine, West Glamorgan Health Authority
A. M. Connolly
Affiliation:
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Welsh Unit), Abton House, Wedal Road, Cardiff CF4 3QX
S. R. Palmer
Affiliation:
Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Welsh Unit), Abton House, Wedal Road, Cardiff CF4 3QX
D. Wright
Affiliation:
Department of Public Health Medicine, West Glamorgan Health Authority
P. D. Thomas
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, Singleton Hospital, West Glamorgan Health Authority
D. Joynson
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, Singleton Hospital, West Glamorgan Health Authority
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A common source outbreak of small round structure virus (SRSV) gastroenteritis affected 81 patients and 114 staff in four hospitals served by one central hospital kitchen. Eating salad items was found to be significantly associated with illness. In a cohort study of a staff buffet function eating turkey salad sandwiches was associated with illness (relative risk = 2·4; 95% CI = 1·4–4·1; P = 0·003), and a case control study of patients in one hospital showed an odds ratio of 6·6 (95% CI = 1·0–71·6; P = 0·04) for eating tuna salad and becoming ill. One of two food handlers who prepared the salads became ill the day following food preparation; she also had a young child at home who had been ill with a gastrointestinal illness during the previous two days. Contamination of food by mechanical transmission of the virus from the child via clothes and hands of the mother, or pre-symptomatic faecal excretion in the mother are possible explanations of contamination of food.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 113 , Issue 3 , December 1994 , pp. 513 - 521
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1994

References

1.Anonymous. Norwalk agent comes of age. J Infect 1990; 20: 189–92.Google Scholar
2.Ms, Ho, Ri, Glass, Ss, Monroe et al. Viral gastroenteritis aboard a cruise ship. Lancet 1989; ii: 901–4.Google Scholar
3.Jn, Kuritsky, Mt, Osterholm, Hb, Greenberg et al. Norwalk gastroenteritis: a community outbreak associated with bakery product consumption. Ann Intern Med 1984; 100: 519–21.Google Scholar
4.Jvs, Pether, Eo, Caul. An outbreak of foodborne gastroenteritis in two hospitals associated with a Norwalk-like virus. J Hyg 1983; 91: 343–50.Google Scholar
5.Jh, Paton, Ja, Sorrell, MK, Wall, Eo, Caul. Large outbreak of foodborne Norwalk type viral gastroenteritis in a district general hospital. CDR 1990; 90/06: 3–4.Google Scholar
6.Guest, C, Kc, Spitainy, Hp, Madore et al. Foodborne Snow Mountain agent gastroenteritis in a school cafeteria. Paediatrics 1987; 79: 559–63.Google Scholar
7.Tp, Gross, Jg, Conde, Gw, Gary et al. An outbreak of acute infectious nonbacterial gastroenteritis in a high school in Maryland. Public Health Rep 1989; 104: 164–9.Google Scholar
8.Je, Kaplan, Gw, Gary, Rc, Baron et al. Epidemiology of Norwalk gastroenteritis and the role of Norwalk virus in outbreaks of non-bacterial gastroenteritis. Ann lnt Med 1982; 756–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Ra, Gunn, Wa, Terranova, Hb, Greenberg et al. Norwalk virus gastroenteritis aboard a cruise ship: an outbreak on five consecutive cruises. Am J Epidemiol 1980; 112: 820–7.Google Scholar
10.Ja, Reid, Eo, Caul, Dg, White, Sr, Palmer. Role of infected food-handler in hotel outbreak of Norwalk-like viral gastroenteritis: implications for control. Lancet 1988; ii: 321–3.Google Scholar
11.Am, Iverson, Gill, M, Clr, Bartlett et al. Two outbreaks of foodborne gastroenteritis caused by a small round structured virus: evidence for prolonged infectivity in a food handler. Lancet 1987; ii: 556–8.Google Scholar
12.Ke, White, Mt, Osterholm, Ja, Mariotti et al. A foodborne outbreak of Norwalk gastroenteritis: evidence for post-recovery transmission. Am J Epidemiol 1986; 124: 120–6.Google Scholar
13.Curry, A, Riordan, T, Craske, J, EO, Caul. Small round structured viruses and persistence of infectivity in food handlers. Lancet 1987; ii: 864–5.Google Scholar
14.Mr, Griffin, Jj, SurowieeDi, Mccloskey et al. Foodborne Norwalk virus. Am J Epidemiol 1982; 115: 178–84.Google Scholar
15.Ts, Thornhill, Ar, Kalica, Rg, Wyatt, AZ, Kapikian, Rm, Chanock. Pattern of shedding of the Norwalk particles in stools during experimentally induced gastroenteritis in volunteers as determined by immune electron microscopy. J Infect Dis 1975; 132: 28–34.Google Scholar
16.Mt, Osterholm, Jc, Forfang, Tl, Ristinen et al. An outbreak of foodborne giardiasis. New Eng Jmed 1981; 304: 24–8.Google Scholar
17.La, Sawyer, Jj, Murphy, Je, Kaplan et al. 25- to 30-nm virus particles associated with a hospital outbreak of acute gastroenteritis with evidence for airborne transmission. Am J Epidemiol 1988; 127: 1261–71.Google Scholar
18.Hb, Greenberg, RG, Wyatt, Az, Kapikian. Norwalk virus in vomitus. Lancet 1979; i: 55.Google Scholar