title: Foodborne disease outbreaks caused by Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Staphylococcus aureus--United States, 1998-2008.
abstract: From 1998 to 2008, 1229 foodborne outbreaks caused by Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens, and Staphylococcus aureus were reported in the United States; 39% were reported with a confirmed etiology. Vomiting was commonly reported in B. cereus (median, 75% of cases) and S. aureus outbreaks (median, 87%), but rarely in C. perfringens outbreaks (median, 9%). Meat or poultry dishes were commonly implicated in C. perfringens (63%) and S. aureus (55%) outbreaks, and rice dishes were commonly implicated in B. cereus outbreaks (50%). Errors in food processing and preparation were commonly reported (93%), regardless of etiology; contamination by a food worker was only common in S. aureus outbreaks (55%). Public health interventions should focus on these commonly reported errors to reduce the occurrence of outbreaks caused by B. cereus, C. perfringens, and S. aureus in the United States.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, MS C-09, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. iyk3@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Sarah D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Bennett
authors.forename: Kelly A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: L Hannah
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Gould
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Bacillus cereus; Clostridium perfringens; Staphylococcus aureus; bacterial toxins; disease outbreaks