Use of stool collection kits delivered to patients can improve confirmation of etiology in foodborne disease outbreaks.
Clin Infect Dis
; 39(10): 1454-9, 2004 Nov 15.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-15546081
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
In 68% of foodborne disease outbreaks, no etiologic pathogen is identified. In two-thirds of outbreaks with no identified etiology, no stool specimens are submitted for testing.METHODS:
From April 2001 to March 2003, we pilot-tested use of prepackaged, self-contained stool specimen collection kits in 3 states, delivered to and from patients by courier or mail, to improve rates of specimen collection in the outbreak setting. Specimens were tested for bacterial and viral pathogens at health department laboratories, and results were correlated with epidemiological investigation data.RESULTS:
Specimens were returned by > or =1 person in 52 (96%) of 54 outbreaks in which kits were deployed; in total, 263 (76%) of 347 persons who received kits returned specimens. Resolution of symptoms was the most commonly cited reason for nonsubmission of kits. An etiology was confirmed in 37 (71%) of 52 outbreaks with specimens returned; 28 (76%) were attributable to norovirus, and 9 (24%) were attributed to bacterial pathogens. Stool kits were well received and cost an average of approximately 43 dollars per specimen returned.CONCLUSIONS:
In two-thirds of foodborne disease outbreaks in which delivered stool collection kits were successfully deployed, an etiologic organism was identified. Delivery of kits to and from patients to improve rates of stool collection in outbreaks in which specimens might otherwise not be submitted could substantially reduce the number of outbreaks with an unknown etiology.
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Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Kit de Reagentes para Diagnóstico
/
Surtos de Doenças
/
Fezes
/
Microbiologia de Alimentos
/
Infecções
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
Limite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Clin Infect Dis
Assunto da revista:
DOENCAS TRANSMISSIVEIS
Ano de publicação:
2004
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos