title: Population-based incidence of infection with selected bacterial enteric pathogens in children younger than five years of age, 1996-1998.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies of bacterial enteric infections have suggested a disproportionate disease burden for children younger than 5 years of age.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study describes population-based incidence of culture-confirmed infections with 6 bacterial enteric pathogens in children younger than 5 years of age in the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), 1996-1998.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases were ascertained through active laboratory-based surveillance in Minnesota, Oregon and selected counties in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland and New York.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one percent (5218 of 24,358) of infections were in children younger than 5 years of age, but this age group made up only 7% of the total person-years of observation. Among those younger than 5 years of age, the incidence (cases per 100,000 person-years) for each pathogen was: Salmonella, 55.3; Campylobacter, 43.4; Shigella, 32.7; E. coli O157, 10.3; Yersinia enterocolitica, 7.1; Listeria monocytogenes, 0.7. Incidence varied widely among the 7 FoodNet sites.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirmed a disproportionate disease burden in young children. Investigation of risk factors specific to this age group and review and enhancement of current prevention and control strategies for children younger than 5 years of age may reduce illness.
authors.affiliation: Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, MD, USA. kathleen.koehler@hhs.gov
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Koehler
authors.forename: Tamar
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Lasky
authors.forename: Sara B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Fein
authors.forename: Stephanie M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Delong
authors.forename: Marguerite A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: Therese
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rabatsky-Ehr
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.forename: Beletshachew
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shiferaw
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Swanson
authors.forename: Duc J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Vugia
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D002167:Campylobacter; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012621:Seasons