[Incidence of reactive arthritis and other musculoskeletal sequelae following a foodborne outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis phago type 14 b infection].
OBJECTIVE
We intended to estimate the prevalence of reactive arthritis (ReA) and other musculoskeletal sequelae after a foodborne outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis phago type 14 b in a banquet in Castellón in June 5th, 2004.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study was carried out with 125 subjects (90.6%) out of the banquet participants. Sixty-two symptomatic infected cases occurred, 33 with positive cultures of S. enteritidis phago type 14 b, and 54 non-infected subjects. After 4 months of the outbreak, all 125 subjects were studied by means of a symptoms questionnaire of ReA based on Buxton et al, administered by telephone. Medical examination of subjects with musculoskeletal symptoms, 29 of 30, was done by a rheumatologist. Relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) was estimated by Poisson regression models.


RESULTS
Any symptoms were reported by 32 (52%) of infected cases versus 13 (24%) of non-infected (RR adjusted = 2.49; 95% CI, 1.26-4.95); 20 (32%) infected cases reported muskuloskeletal symptoms compared to 4 (7%) non-infected (RR adjusted = 4.96; 95% CI, 1.64-15.04). The medical examination of the subjects with musculoskeletal symptoms revealed 3 infected cases with ReA (4.8%; 3/62). In addition, several reactive musculoskeletal sequelae associated with salmonellosis infection were found in 4 subjects (1 neck pain, 1 polyarthralgias, and 2 enthesopathy).


CONCLUSIONS
The occurrence of ReA was lower than other studies but the incidence of musculoskeletal symptoms was increased. The infection by Salmonella supposes a risk for joint symptoms that could be important taking into account the high incidence of salmonellosis.
Beltran-Fabregat
Juan
J
Servicio de Reumatología. Hospital General. Castellón. España.
Arnedo-Pena
Alberto
A
Bellido-Blasco
Juan B
JB
Tirado-Balaguer
M Dolores
MD
Fenosa-Salillas
Angelina
A
Pac-Sa
M Rosario
MR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000453:epidemiology; D016918:Arthritis, Reactive / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000091402:Prohibitins; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis; D013030:Spain