Population-based surveillance for Yersinia enterocolitica infections in FoodNet sites, 1996-1999: higher risk of disease in infants and minority populations.
Active surveillance for laboratory-confirmed Yersinia enterocolitica (YE) infections was conducted at 5 Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) sites in the United States during 1996-1999. The annual incidence averaged 0.9 cases/100,000 population. After adjusting for missing data, the average annual incidence by race/ethnicity was 3.2 cases/100,000 population among black persons, 1.5 cases/100,000 population among Asian persons, 0.6 cases/100,000 population among Hispanic persons, and 0.4 cases/100,000 population among white persons. Incidence increased with decreasing age in all race/ethnicity groups. Black infants had the highest incidence (141.9 cases/100,000 population; range, 8.7 cases/100,000 population in Minnesota to 207.0 cases/100,000 population in Georgia). Seasonal variations in incidence, with a marked peak in December, were noted only among black persons. YE infections should be suspected in black children with gastroenteritis, particularly during November-February. Culturing for YE should be part of routine testing of stool specimens by clinical laboratories serving populations at risk, especially during the winter months.
Ray
Susan M
SM
Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, USA. sray02@emory.edu
Ahuja
Shama D
SD
Blake
Paul A
PA
Farley
Monica M
MM
Samuel
Michael
M
Fiorentino
Therese
T
Swanson
Ellen
E
Cassidy
Maureen
M
Lay
Jenny C
JC
Van Gilder
Thomas
T
D001741:Black or African American; D044466:Asian People; D002648:Child; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D015009:Yersinia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica