Prevalence and Incidence of Staphylococcal infection

Prevalance of Staphylococcal infection:

The true incidence of staphylococcal food poisoning is unknown for a number of reasons, including poor responses from victims during interviews with health officials; misdiagnosis of the illness, which may be symptomatically similar to other types of food poisoning (such as vomiting caused by Bacillus cereus toxin); inadequate collection of samples for laboratory analyses; and improper laboratory examination. Of the bacterial pathogens causing foodborne illnesses in the U.S. (127 outbreaks, 7,082 cases recorded in 1983), 14 outbreaks involving 1,257 cases were caused by S. aureus. These outbreaks were followed by 11 outbreaks (1,153 cases) in 1984, 14 outbreaks (421 cases) in 1985, 7 outbreaks (250 cases) in 1986 and one reported outbreak (100 cases) in 1987. (Source: FDA Bad Bug Book)

Outbreaks of Staphylococcal infection:

Typical Outbreak: 1,364 children became ill out of a total of 5,824 who had eaten lunch served at 16 elementary schools in Texas. The lunches were prepared in a central kitchen and transported to the schools by truck. Epidemiological studies revealed that 95% of the children who became ill had eaten a chicken salad. The afternoon of the day preceding the lunch, frozen chickens were boiled for 3 hours. After cooking, the chickens were deboned, cooled to room temperature with a fan, ground into small pieces, placed into l2-inch-deep aluminum pans and stored overnight in a walk-in refrigerator at 42-45°F.

The following morning, the remaining ingredients of the salad were added and the mixture was blended with an electric mixer. The food was placed in thermal containers and transported to the various schools at 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM, where it was kept at room temperature until served between 11:30 AM and noon. Bacteriological examination of the chicken salad revealed the presence of large numbers of S. aureus.

Contamination of the chicken probably occurred when it was deboned. The chicken was not cooled rapidly enough because it was stored in l2-inch-deep layers. Growth of the staphylococcus probably occurred also during the period when the food was kept in the warm classrooms. Prevention of this incident would have entailed screening the individuals who deboned the chicken for carriers of the staphylococcus, more rapid cooling of the chicken, and adequate refrigeration of the salad from the time of preparation to its consumption.

Atypical Outbreaks: In 1989, multiple staphylococcal foodborne diseases were associated with the consumption of canned mushrooms. (CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, June 23, 1989, Vol. 38,

Starkville, Mississippi. On February 13, 22 people became ill with gastroenteritis several hours after eating at a university cafeteria. Symptoms included nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal cramps. Nine people were hospitalized. Canned mushrooms served with omelets and hamburgers were associated with illness. No deficiencies in food handling were found. Staphylococcal enterotoxin type A was identified in a sample of implicated mushrooms from the omelet bar and in unopened cans from the same lot.

Queens, New York. On February 28, 48 people became ill a median of 3 hours after eating lunch in a hospital employee cafeteria. One person was hospitalized.Cannedmushroomsserved at the salad bar were epidemiologically implicated. Two unopened cans of mushrooms from the same lot as the implicated can contained staphylococcal enterotoxin A.

McKeesport, Pennsylvania. On April 17, 12 people became ill with gastroenteritis a median of 2 hours after eating lunch or dinner at a restaurant. Two people were hospitalized. Canned mushrooms, consumed on pizza or with a parmigiana sauce, were associated with illness. No deficiencies were found in food preparation or storage. Staphylococcal enterotoxin was found in samples of remaining mushrooms and in unopened cans from the same lot.

Philipsburg, Pennsylvania. On April 22, 20 people developed illness several hours after eating food from a take-out pizzeria. Four people were hospitalized. Only pizza served with canned mushrooms was associated with illness. Staphylococcal enterotoxin was found in a sample of mushrooms from the pizzeria and in unopened cans with the same lot number. For more information on recent outbreaks see the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports from CDC. (Source: FDA Bad Bug Book)

About prevalence and incidence statistics:

The term 'prevalence' of Staphylococcal infection usually refers to the estimated population of people who are managing Staphylococcal infection at any given time. The term 'incidence' of Staphylococcal infection refers to the annual diagnosis rate, or the number of new cases of Staphylococcal infection diagnosed each year. Hence, these two statistics types can differ: a short-lived disease like flu can have high annual incidence but low prevalence, but a life-long disease like diabetes has a low annual incidence but high prevalence. For more information see about prevalence and incidence statistics.

Search Specialists by State and City