Human listeriosis in Denmark 1981-1987 including an outbreak November 1985-March 1987.
Clinical manifestations, predisposing factors and outcome of listeriosis in Denmark during the period 1981-1987 are described. An increased incidence of the disease during the period November 1985-March 1987 was due mainly to 35 patients infected with strains of Listeria monocytogenes indistinguishable by phage-typing. These patients were younger, previously healthier and had a better prognosis. Also, there were more cases in pregnant women and neonates than in other persons. A strong correlation was found between predisposing factors and mortality. We conclude that there was an outbreak caused by a single source of infection and which was distributed all over the country. It lasted for more than a year and affected most categories of people. The source was not identified.
Samuelsson
S
S
Department of Epidemiology, Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Rothgardt
N P
NP
Carvajal
A
A
Frederiksen
W
W
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011336:Probability; D011379:Prognosis; D012621:Seasons