title: Food Safety Knowledge, Beliefs and Behavior of Persons with AIDS: A Multicenter Study.
abstract: Persons living with AIDS are highly vulnerable to foodborne enteric infections including recurrentSalmonellasepticemia and toxoplasmosis of the brain with the potential for substantial morbidity and mortality. Patients with immunologic AIDS in Chicago, New Orleans, and Bayamon were interviewed to determine gaps in food safety knowledge and prevalence of related behaviors in order to create targeted educational material for this population. A food safety score was calculated based on responses to 40 knowledge, belief, and behavior questions. Among 268 AIDS patients interviewed, the overall food safety score was 63% (range 28% to 93%). Many patients believed it was okay to eat higher risk food (38% for eating eggs served loose or runny, 27% for eating store-bought hot dogs without heating them first), 40% did not know that eating unpasteurized cheese may get germs inside their body that could cause hospitalization and possibly death, and 40% would not throw away salad that had been splashed with a few drops of raw chicken juice. These data demonstrate substantial knowledge gaps and behavioral risk related to acquisition of foodborne disease among AIDS patients. Healthcare providers should incorporate education regarding foodborne disease risk into routine outpatient discussion of improving and maintaining their health.
authors: University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 1603 W. Taylor Street, MC 923, Chicago, Illinois, 60612, USA.
authors: Mark S
authors: MS
authors: Dworkin
authors: University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, 1603 W. Taylor Street, MC 923, Chicago, Illinois, 60612, USA.
authors: Caryn E
authors: CE
authors: Peterson
authors: University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Clinical and Translational Science, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
authors: Weihua
authors: W
authors: Gao
authors: Retrovirus Research Center, Internal Medicine Department, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, Hospital Universitario Ramón Ruiz Arnau, Avenida Laurel # 100, Santa Juanita, Bayamón, Puerto Rico 00956.
authors: Angel
authors: A
authors: Mayor
authors: Retrovirus Research Center, Internal Medicine Department, Universidad Central del Caribe, School of Medicine, Hospital Universitario Ramón Ruiz Arnau, Avenida Laurel # 100, Santa Juanita, Bayamón, Puerto Rico 00956.
authors: Robert
authors: R
authors: Hunter
authors: University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez, Coordinator of the Food Science and Technology Program, 259 N. Alfonso Valdes Blvd., Ave. Las Marías, A. Ramírez de Arellano & Rosell Bldg., Room CTA 100 Mayagüez, PR 00680.
authors: Edna
authors: E
authors: Negron
authors: Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Section, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 2235 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70119.
authors: Alison
authors: A
authors: Fleury
authors: Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Section, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 2235 Poydras Street, New Orleans, LA 70119.
authors: C Lynn
authors: CL
authors: Besch