Relationship between home food-handling practices and sporadic salmonellosis in adults in Louisiana, United States.
Salmonellosis is the leading cause of death caused by foodborne bacterial pathogens in the United States. Approximately 90% of salmonella infections are sporadic, but most of what is known about salmonellosis has come from outbreak investigations. We studied the risk for sporadic salmonellosis among 115 persons aged > or = 15 years reported to the Louisiana Office of Public Health during May 1998-April 1999, compared with 115 age-matched controls. Significantly more case-patients than controls had chronic underlying medical conditions [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 4.3; 95% confidence interval (CI) = 2.2-8.7]. Although reported consumption of specific food items likely to contain salmonella was not associated with illness, inconsistent handwashing between preparation of meat and non-meat items was associated with illness (aOR = 8.3; CI = 1.1-61.8). Enhanced measures to provide a consistently safe food supply and promote safer food preparation in households will depend on prevention of sporadic salmonellosis.
Kohl
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KS
Immunization Safety Branch, National Immunization Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Rietberg
K
K
Wilson
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S
Farley
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TA
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination; D005511:Food Handling; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006801:Humans; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008461:Meat Products; D008875:Middle Aged; D012147:Restaurants; D012307:Risk Factors; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control