A food-borne outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by different Salmonella serotypes in 2 universities in Xiamen, Fujian, China, in 2012

Jpn J Infect Dis. 2015;68(3):187-91. doi: 10.7883/yoken.JJID.2014.235. Epub 2014 Dec 24.

Abstract

We investigated a diarrhea outbreak in 2 universities to identify the etiological agent responsible, the source of infection, the mode of transmission, and the risk factors. A case-controlled study was conducted using case students and asymptomatic control students who were selected randomly and frequency-matched according to class and age, and the source of food or water intake was investigated. Of the total 22,404 students at the universities, 0.25% developed Salmonella Infections. A total of 96% (54/56) of the case students and 30% (35/117) of the control students consumed bread products provided by the same vendor (odds ratio [OR] = 63.3; 95% confidence interval [CI], 14.9-550.7). Among the students who consumed bread, 96% (52/54) of the case students and 9% (3/35) of the control students ate egg sandwiches (OR = 277.3; 95%CI, 43.9-1,750.8). Seven strains of Salmonella enteritidis and 6 strains of S. chester were isolated from the case students or food samples. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing showed the same patterns. The outbreak of gastroenteritis was caused mainly by egg sandwiches contaminated with different serotypes of Salmonella.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • China / epidemiology
  • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Foodborne Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Foodborne Diseases / microbiology
  • Gastroenteritis / epidemiology*
  • Gastroenteritis / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Salmonella / classification
  • Salmonella / genetics*
  • Salmonella Infections / epidemiology*
  • Salmonella Infections / microbiology
  • Universities
  • Young Adult