title: Travel-associated enteric infections diagnosed after return to the United States, Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), 2004-2009.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Approximately 40% of US travelers to less developed countries experience diarrheal illness. Using data from the Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), we describe travel-associated enteric infections during 2004-2009, characterizing the patients, pathogens, and destinations involved.
  
  
  METHODS
  FoodNet conducts active surveillance at 10 US sites for laboratory-confirmed infections with 9 pathogens transmitted commonly through food. Travel-associated infections are infections diagnosed in the United States but likely acquired abroad based on a pathogen-specific time window between return from international travel to diagnosis. We compare the demographic, clinical, and exposure-related characteristics of travelers with those of nontravelers and estimate the risk of travel-associated infections by destination, using US Department of Commerce data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 64,039 enteric infections reported to FoodNet with information about travel, 8270 (13%) were travel associated. The pathogens identified most commonly in travelers were Campylobacter (42%), nontyphoidal Salmonella (32%), and Shigella (13%). The most common travel destinations were Mexico, India, Peru, Dominican Republic, and Jamaica. Most travel-associated infections occurred in travelers returning from Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Risk was greatest after travel to Africa (75.9 cases per 100,000 population), followed by Asia (22.7 cases per 100,000), and LAC (20.0 cases per 100,000).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The Latin America and Caribbean region accounts for most travel-associated enteric infections diagnosed in the United States, although travel to Africa carries the greatest risk. Although FoodNet surveillance does not cover enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, a common travel-associated infection, this information about other key enteric pathogens can be used by travelers and clinicians in pre- and posttravel consultations.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Mailstop C-09, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. mkendall@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Magdalena E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.forename: Stacy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Crim
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fullerton
authors.forename: Pauline V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Alicia B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Cronquist
authors.forename: Beletshachew
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shiferaw
authors.forename: L Amanda
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Ingram
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rounds
authors.forename: Eric D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Mintz
authors.forename: Barbara E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Mahon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D014195:Travel; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult