Hospitalizations and deaths due to Salmonella infections, FoodNet, 1996-1999.
Nontyphoidal Salmonella causes a higher proportion of food-related deaths annually than any other bacterial pathogen in the United States. We reviewed 4 years (1996-1999) of population-based active surveillance data on laboratory-confirmed Salmonella infections from the Emerging Infections Program's Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), to determine the rates of hospitalization and death associated with Salmonella infection. Overall, 22% of infected persons were hospitalized, with the highest rate (47%) among persons aged >60 years. Fifty-eight deaths occurred, for an estimated annual incidence of 0.08 deaths/100,000 population. These deaths accounted for 38% of all deaths reported through FoodNet from 1996 through 1999, and they occurred primarily among adults with serious underlying disease. Although Salmonella infection was seldom listed as a cause of death on hospital charts and death certificates, our chart review suggests that Salmonella infection contributed to these deaths.
Kennedy
Malinda
M
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. mhkenned@hsph.harvard.edu
Villar
Rodrigo
R
Vugia
Duc J
DJ
Rabatsky-Ehr
Therese
T
Farley
Monica M
MM
Pass
Margaret
M
Smith
Kirk
K
Smith
Perry
P
Cieslak
Paul R
PR
Imhoff
Beth
B
Griffin
Patricia M
PM
D000328:Adult; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007255:Information Services; D009017:Morbidity; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology