title: Foodborne illness among factory workers, Gweru, Zimbabwe, 2012: a retrospective cohort study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  On the 20th September 2012 the Gweru district medical officer (DMO) reported a sudden increase in the number of factory workers complaining of symptoms suggestive of gastrointestinal illness. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to determine factors associated with illness among factory workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study was conducted from September to October 2012 among 98 randomly selected factory workers. Interviewer administered questionnaires were used to evaluate possible risk factors from which food attack rates, relative risks (RR) and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated using Epi info version 3.5.1. Bacteriological examination of food samples was performed. In addition rectal swabs and specimens from food handlers and patients were collected for analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 98 workers interviewed, 87/98 (89%) were males. Consumption of beef stew (AOR = 9.28, 95% CI 2.78-30.91) was independently associated with foodborne illness. Klebsiella spp. were isolated from beef stew and stool specimen of patients. Watery diarrhoea 51/98 (52%), fatigue 48/98 (49%) and abdominal cramps 41/98 (42%) were the most presenting symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Klebsiella spp. was the aetiological agent for the food borne illness at the factory and this resulted from consumption of contaminated beef stew by the workers. As a result of this evidence, the implicated beef was withdrawn from the canteen and the menu cycle was revised to minimise exposure to the same food. Food handlers training in food safety and hygiene and regular canteen inspections for quality assurance were recommended and adopted. No further food borne illness has been reported from the factory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. meggie.gabida@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Meggie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gabida
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. gombent@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Notion T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Gombe
authors.affiliation: Provincial Medical Directorate, Midlands Province, Ministry of Health and Child Care, Gweru, Zimbabwe. miltonchemhuru@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Milton
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chemhuru
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. ltakundwa@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Takundwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. bangured@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Donewell
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bangure
authors.affiliation: Department of Community Medicine, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe. tshimangamufuta@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Mufuta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tshimanga
mesh_terms: D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D000069466:Red Meat; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D000078329:Workforce; D015030:Zimbabwe / Q000453:epidemiology