Sprout-Associated Outbreaks
Authors: Janet Mohle-Boetani
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2002)

Letters3 September 2002Sprout-Associated OutbreaksJanet Mohle-Boetani, MD, MPH, Jeff Farrar, DVM, PhD, and S. Benson Werner, MD, MPHJanet Mohle-Boetani, MD, MPHCalifornia Department of Health Services; Berkeley, CA 94704Search for more papers by this author, Jeff Farrar, DVM, PhDCalifornia Department of Health Services; Berkeley, CA 94704Search for more papers by this author, and S. Benson Werner, MD, MPHCalifornia Department of Health Services; Berkeley, CA 94704Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-137-5_Part_1-200209030-00031 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail IN RESPONSE:Dr. Lodato's comments provide us a chance to clarify a few points. The estimated number of cases in our outbreaks is, indeed, small compared with the estimated number of cases in the United States. However, the estimated national cases are mostly sporadic rather than associated with an outbreak. They could have had many sources of exposure, including contact with infected animals and humans; when they do have foodborne sources, these are rarely identified. But investigations of outbreak-associated cases allow us an opportunity to identify foodborne sources and to then intervene to prevent additional cases. While human salmonellosis has ...References1. Lesser CF, Miller S. Nontyphoidal salmonellosis. In: Braunwald E, Fauci A, Kasper D, Hauser K, Longo D, Jameson J, eds. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine 15th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2001:973. Google Scholar2. Hedberg CW, MacDonald KL, Osterholm MT. Changing epidemiology of food-borne disease: a Minnesota perspective. Clin Infect Dis. 1994;18:671-80; quiz 681-2. [PMID: 8075256] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Olsen SJ, MacKinnon LC, Goulding JS, Bean NH, Slutsker L. Surveillance for foodborne-disease outbreaks—United States, 1993-1997. MMWR CDC Surveillance Summaries. 2000;49(No. SS-1):5. Google Scholar4. Tauxe RV. Food safety and irradiation: protecting the public from foodborne infections. Emerg Infect Dis. 2001;7:516-21. [PMID: 11485644] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Osterholm MT, Potter ME. Irradiation pasteurization of solid foods: taking food safety to the next level [Letter]. Emerg Infect Dis. 1997;3:575-7. [PMID: 9366612] CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: California Department of Health Services; Berkeley, CA 94704 PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoEscherichia coli O157 and Salmonella Infections Associated with Sprouts in California, 1996–1998 Janet C. Mohle-Boetani , Jeff A. Farrar , S. Benson Werner , Dzovag Minassian , Ray Bryant , Sharon Abbott , Laurence Slutsker , Duc J. Vugia , and Sprout-Associated Outbreaks Robert J. Lodato Sprout-Associated Outbreaks Robert J. Lodato Metrics Cited ByIncidence of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes in Retail Fresh Ground Beef, Sprouts, and Mushrooms 3 September 2002Volume 137, Issue 5_Part_1Page: 373KeywordsArmed forcesEatingFoodMeatMilkPathogensPrevention, policy, and public healthSalmonellosis ePublished: 3 September 2002 Issue Published: 3 September 2002 CopyrightCopyright © 2002 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF DownloadLoading ...