Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-7qhmt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T13:35:41.281Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Problems in the diagnosis of foodborne infection in general practice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

S. Palmer
Affiliation:
PHLS Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre (Welsh Unit), Abton House, Wedal Road, Roath, Cardiff CF4 3QX
H. Houston
Affiliation:
The Health Centre, Plasmawr Road, Fairwater, Cardiff CF5 3JT, and Department of General Practice, UWCM
B. Lervy
Affiliation:
Llys Meddyg, The Surgery, Sway Road, Morriston, Swansea and School of Postgraduate Studies, Swansea SA6 6NL
D. Ribeiro
Affiliation:
Public Health Laboratory, University Hospital of Wales, Heath Park, Cardiff CF4 4XW
P. Thomas
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, Singleton Hospital, Sgeti, Abertawe, Swansea SA2 8QA
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The incidence of acute gastroenteritis and self suspected food poisoning in general practice populations was compared with consultation rates in four group practices during a 3-month winter period and a 2-month autumn period. The average monthly consultation rate for acute gastroenteritis and self suspected food poisoning was 0·3 % and 0·06 % respectively. However, over the same period, on average, an estimated 7% of the practice population per month reported an acute gastroenteritis illness, and 0·7% suspected a food poisoning illness. Only about one in 26 people who suffer an acute episode of gastroenteritis consult their general practitioner (GP). In two practices, faecal samples were sought from all patient cases; the isolation rate for salmonellas was 2% (3/191) and for campylobacters it was 12% (23/191). In the other two practices following routine management, the isolation rate for salmonellas was 9% (6/64) and for campylobacters it was 2% (1/64). Isolation of faecal pathogens was not associated with patients' suspicion of food poisoning. A history of eating out in the week before onset was associated with a significantly increased yield of salmonellas and campylobacters.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1996

References

1.Salmonella infections: monthly report. Commun Dis Rep 1996; 6: 19.Google Scholar
2.Other gastrointestinal tract infections. Commun Dis Rep 1996; 6: 2.Google Scholar
3. Report of the Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food. The Microbiological Safety of Food Part 1. London: HMSO, 1990.Google Scholar
4.Welsh Affairs Committee, Third Report. Arrangements for handling serious outbreaks of food poisoning in the light of the salmonella outbreak in July and August 1989 in North Wales. House of Commons, London: HMSO, 1991.Google Scholar
5.Feldman, RA, Banatvala, N. The frequency of culturing stools from adults with diarrhoea in Great Britain. Epidemiol Infect 1994; 113: 41–4.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6.Dean, AD, Dean, JA, Burton, AH, Dicker, RC. Epi Info version 5: a word-processing, database and statistics system for epidemiology on microcomputers. Stone Mountain, Georgia: USD Incorporated, 1990.Google Scholar
7.Palmer, SR, Smith, RMM. GP surveillance of infections in Wales. Commun Dis Report 1991; 1: R25–8.Google ScholarPubMed
8. Royal College of General Practitioners. Annual Report for 1988 of the Weekly Returns Service, 06 1989.Google Scholar
9.PHLS Study Group. Cryptosporidiosis in England and Wales: prevalence and clinical and epidemiological factors. BMJ 1990; 300: 774–7.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Skirrow, MB. A demographic survey of campylobacter, salmonella and shigella infections in England. Epidemiol Infect 1987; 99: 647–57.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11. Foodlink. The Food and Drink Federation – Institution of Environmental Health Officers, National Food Safety Report, London, 1993.Google Scholar
12.Pether, JVS, Lightfoot, NF. The appropriate use of diagnostic services (IV) How useful is the microbiological investigation of diarrhoea? Health Trends 1985; 17: 52–4.Google ScholarPubMed
13.Kendall, EJC, Tanner, EI. Campylobacter enteritis in general practice. J Hyg 1982; 88: 155–63.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Rousseau, SA. Investigation of Acute gastroenteritis in general practice: the relevance of newer laboratory methods. J R Coll Gen Pract 1983; 33: 514–6.Google ScholarPubMed