title: Hospitalizations and deaths due to Salmonella infections, FoodNet, 1996-1999.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. mhkenned@hsph.harvard.edu
authors.forename: Malinda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Villar
authors.forename: Duc J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Vugia
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rabatsky-Ehr
authors.forename: Monica M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Farley
authors.forename: Margaret
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pass
authors.forename: Kirk
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Perry
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Paul R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Cieslak
authors.forename: Beth
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Imhoff
authors.forename: Patricia M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Griffin
mesh_terms: 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