Consumption of groundwater as an independent risk factor of Salmonella choleraesuis infection: a case-control study in Taiwan.
Infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Choleraesuis (S. Choleraesuis) in humans can be considered as an endemic disease in certain regions of Taiwan, and the number of cases has increased in recent years. The goal of the case-control study discussed in this article was to identify the possible demographic and environmental risk factors associated with S. Choleraesuis infection in Taiwan. During the period of December 2005 to March 2007, the case-control study was conducted in human patients with Salmonella infection from two medical centers. Structured questionnaires were applied to collect information of relevant risk factors after interviewing 13 culture-confirmed S. Choleraesuis cases and 84 controls with other Salmonella serotype infection. After evaluation by univariate and multivariate statistical models, the results suggested that consumption of groundwater could be an independent risk factor associated with S. Choleraesuis in Taiwan. Therefore, appropriate health education needs to be conducted especially in areas where groundwater is used.
Li
Tsung-Hsien
TH
Graduate Institute of Veterinary Public Health, National Chung Hsing University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Chiu
Cheng-Hsun
CH
Chen
Wan-Ching
WC
Chen
Chih-Ming
CM
Hsu
Yuan-Man
YM
Chiou
Shyan-Song
SS
Chiou
Chien-Shun
CS
Chang
Chao-Chin
CC
D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004326:Drinking; D019353:Endemic Diseases; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000382:microbiology*; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012476:Salmonella arizonae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013552:Swine / Q000382:microbiology; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*
D014873:Water Pollutants