title: Survey of local authority approaches to investigating sporadic cases of suspected food poisoning.
abstract: Local authorities in England were surveyed in 1997 to document their approach to investigating sporadic cases of suspected food poisoning, the data they collect, and their objectives for doing so. Three hundred and nineteen of the 359 authorities (89%) responded. The main objectives stated were to prevent spread of infection, detect outbreaks, educate the public, and identify risk factors for infection. Most outbreaks of food poisoning were detected as a result of complaints from members of the public. Investigation of Salmonella spp and Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 appeared to have a higher priority than campylobacter infection and viral gastroenteritis. Eighty-five per cent (266/311) of local authorities had agreed timescales for investigating cases and 54% (165/306) reported using computer technology to collate and analyse data on sporadic cases of food poisoning. Almost all (243/244) respondents supported the idea of having a new national system for the collation of such data and 79% (244/309) expressed interest in piloting a new standard form for enhanced surveillance of food poisoning.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Surveillance Unit, PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre, London. rrooney@phls.nhs.uk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: S J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stanwell-Smith
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Cook
mesh_terms: D003256:Community Participation; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology