An outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni enteritis in a school of Madrid, Spain.
An outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by Campylobacter infection was identified in May 2003 in a school in Madrid, Spain. Eighty one cases were identified in a total of 253 people studied. A retrospective cohort study showed that a custard made with ultra high temperature (UHT) milk was associated with illness (RR: 3.15; 95% CI: 1.25-7.93). The custard was probably contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni from a raw chicken prepared a day previously in the same kitchen. Our recommendations were to periodically remind the school s authorities how to act if an outbreak should be suspected, to include the monitoring of a food handler s working day in each environmental investigation in order to detect any risk behaviour; to implement microbiological analysis from the surfaces and utensils of the collective kitchens and improve the sanitary education of food handlers.
Jiménez
M
M
Epidemiology Training Program, Health Institute Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
Soler
P
P
Venanzi
J D
JD
Canté
P
P
Varela
C
C
Martínez Navarro
F
F
D000328:Adult; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002169:Campylobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015897:Comorbidity; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data