Epidemiologic investigation of foodborne disease outbreaks caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae contamination
- Author:
WANG Yao
;
ZHAO Pinnan
;
WANG Liang
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Streptococcus dysgalactiae;
foodborne illness outbreaks;
epidemiologic investigations
- From:
China Tropical Medicine
2024;24(9):1142-
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective In order to find out the cause of the clustered epidemic events in 2 districts of Chengdu, quickly control the development of the incident and prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Methods From July 2020 to October 2021, three clusters of epidemics with fever and sore throat as the main manifestations occurred successively in two districts of Chengdu City. Through the investigation of all relevant personnel in industrial parks and schools, case investigation and epidemiological analysis were carried out to establish the etiological hypothesis. Retrospective cohort study and case-control were used to carry out the epidemiological investigation. The investigation of food safety and environmental hygiene was carried out through interviews, data reference, field investigation and other ways to further find out possible harmful links and risk factors. Respiratory tract and intestinal biological samples and environmental samples were collected for rapid screening, bacterial culture and PCR detection of common respiratory tract and intestinal pathogens.Results The three incidents identified 65 cases (21.5% prevalence), 158 cases (29.2% prevalence) and 93 cases (1.0% prevalence), respectively. The clinical manifestations were mainly fever, sore throat, and malaise, with occasional abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and rash. The epidemiologic curves suggested a point-source exposure pattern, with no spatial aggregation and no specific populations affected. Analytical epidemiological investigations suggested that some of the food items in the cafeteria may have been risk factors within three days before the onset of illness. Food hygiene investigations revealed that, prior to the onset of the incidents, coleslaw was provided without a proper cold dish processing area in all three events. Approximately a week before the onset of Incident B, a cafeteria food handler sustained a hand injury but was not reassigned. Streptococcus dysgalactiae was detected in throat swabs of multiple cases in all 3 incidents, and the same strain was detected in cafeteria workers in Incident B. Conclusions All three incidents were foodborne disease outbreaks caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae contamination. Likely contributing factors include contamination of animal food raw materials, food handlers continuing to work while infected, and non-standard preparation of cold dishes in canteens. It is suggested that the future foodborne disease risk should be highly concerned about the fever aggregation outbreak caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae.
- Full text:202511111559036273621.Epidemiologic investigation of foodborne disease outbreaks caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae contamination.pdf
