Study Reveals Salmonella's Deadliest Serotypes and Food Sources in US Outbreaks
December 22, 2024The predominant Salmonella serotypes identified included Enteritidis (28.42% of outbreaks), Typhimurium (12.52%), and Newport (7.67%), which collectively accounted for nearly half of the outbreaks and associated health impacts.
Certain serotypes displayed higher rates of hospitalizations and deaths relative to the number of outbreaks, indicating their potential virulence and the need for targeted public health interventions.
The analysis revealed a total of 2,868 confirmed foodborne outbreaks, resulting in 81,996 illnesses, 11,018 hospitalizations, and 115 deaths attributed to Salmonella.
Causal mediation analysis revealed that illness and hospitalization counts significantly mediated the relationship between Salmonella serotypes and death counts, highlighting the importance of these factors in outbreak severity.
A recent study, authored by Gonca Buyrukoğlu, Juan Moreira, and Zeynal Topalcengiz, analyzed foodborne outbreaks caused by Salmonella in the United States from 1998 to 2021.
The research utilized data from the CDC's National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) and employed causal mediation methods to understand the pathways leading to severe outcomes in these outbreaks.
Poultry products, particularly chicken, eggs, and turkey, were identified as the primary food vehicles linked to these outbreaks, accounting for 14.02% of total outbreaks and 10.44% of total deaths.
The findings aim to enhance outbreak investigations and inform public health strategies to prevent and control foodborne diseases caused by Salmonella.
Specific serotypes, such as Heidelberg and Saintpaul, along with certain food categories like fruits, were found to have a significant direct effect on illness, hospitalization, and death counts.
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