Foodborne disease outbreaks in nursing homes, 1975 through 1987.
OBJECTIVE
--To describe the epidemiology of foodborne disease outbreaks in nursing homes and to identify where preventive efforts might be focused.


METHODS
--Reports by state and local health departments of foodborne disease outbreaks occurring from January 1, 1975, through December 31, 1987.


METHODS
--Foodborne disease outbreaks reported to the Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, Ga, on standard investigation forms.


METHODS
--Each foodborne disease outbreak report was examined by an epidemiologist or statistician. Outbreaks were considered to have a known pathogen if confirmed by laboratory tests, and a known vehicle when an epidemiologic investigation implicated a specific food item.


RESULTS
--From 1975 through 1987, 26 states reported 115 outbreaks of foodborne disease in nursing homes, causing illness in 4944 persons and death in 51. These outbreaks represented 2% of all reported foodborne disease outbreaks and 19% of outbreak-associated deaths in this period. Of 52 outbreaks with a known cause, Salmonella was the most frequently reported pathogen, accounting for 52% of outbreaks and 81% of deaths. Salmonella enteritidis outbreaks accounted for 56% of the Salmonella-associated deaths since 1981. The implicated food vehicles in S enteritidis outbreaks were made with eggs or prepared with equipment contaminated with eggs. Staphylococcal foodborne disease was the next most commonly identified cause, accounting for 23% of outbreaks.


CONCLUSIONS
--Since the elderly are at high risk for serious morbidity from foodborne disease, nursing homes should practice careful food handling, preparation, and storage procedures; provide education for food handlers; and have active infection control programs to rapidly detect and control outbreaks of foodborne disease.
Levine
W C
WC
Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control, Atlanta, GA 30333.
Smart
J F
JF
Archer
D L
DL
Bean
N H
NH
Tauxe
R V
RV
D000368:Aged; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003625:Data Collection; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D005511:Food Handling / Q000592:standards; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000458:organization & administration; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology