OzFoodNet Projects
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Sporadic Campylobacter infection in Australia
TIMEFRAME
START: OCTOBER 2001
FINISH: APRIL 2003
STATUS:
1. Reported published in 2006, refer to Stafford et al in Epidemiol Infect,Report in preparation for children < 5 years of age.
This study aimed to:
- Identify dietary, environmental and behavioural risk factors for Campylobacter infection in Australia.
- Examine region-specific risk factors for Campylobacter infection.
- Identify age-specific risk factors for Campylobacter infection.
- Identify risk factors associated with specific subtypes of Campylobacter species.
- Determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of Campylobacter strains in Australia.
- Guide control and prevention strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of Campylobacter infections in humans.
Sporadic Locally Acquired Salmonella Enteritidis infection in Australia
TIMEFRAME
START: OCTOBER 2001
FINISH: DECEMBER 2006
STATUS:
Data collection completed. Data set aggregated and currently being analysed.The aims of this study were to:
- Describe clinical, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of Salmonella Enteritidis infections.
- Identify risk factors for sporadic locally acquired Salmonella Enteritidis infection in Australia .
- Identify opportunities for prevention measures.
- Determine the proportion of Salmonella Enteritidis infection that is overseas acquired.
- Detect potential outbreaks of disease caused by Salmonella Enteritidis.
A national case-control study was conducted in seven OzFoodNet sites around Australia with data over a five -year period.
OzFoodNet Outbreak Register
TIMEFRAME
START: JANUARY 2001
FINISH: ONGOING
STATUS:
Updated to June 2006Foodborne disease outbreak data can be useful to identify emerging diseases. These data can also provide important information about patterns in outbreak occurrence, and identify risky food preparation and handling practices.
The purpose of the Outbreak Register is to provide a prospective on-going record of foodborne disease outbreaks.
This scheme will cover all of Australia and will categorise outbreaks by mode of transmission into the following categories:
- Foodborne
- Suspected foodborne
- Waterborne (including recreational)
- Suspected Waterborne (including recreational)
- Animal-to-person
- Person-to-person
- Unknown
To request information regarding Outbreaks of Foodborne Illness email OzFoodNet stating the purpose and nature of your request and the timeframe required.
Listeria Study
TIMEFRAME
START: DECEMBER 2001FINISH: DECEMBER 2005
STATUS:
Data collection completed December 2004. Analysis and report preparation underway (refer to 2007 abstract by Dalton et al.).Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium that is widespread in nature. It is found in the soil, decaying vegetation, and as part of the faecal flora of many mammals. Foodborne human listeriosis (the disease caused by L. monocytogenes) has been documented with foods including milk, soft cheeses, turkey and hotdogs, coleslaw, and cold meats from the deli section including chicken and turkey.
Although there are only 50-70 listeriosis infections in Australia each year, it is an important public health problem because of its severity. Meningitis, encephalitis, sepsis (blood poisoning), foetal death, and prematurity are clinical syndromes resulting from infection by this bacterium.
Listeriosis affects two particular groups: neonates/infants, and people with compromised immune systems. Most infections occur in elderly people or those with severe underlying illnesses.
The purpose of this project is to conduct a case-control study to identify dietary, medical, and behavioural risk factors for listeriosis. New and previously known risk factors will be explored.
The project aims to:
- Identify dietary risk factors, medical risk factors and behavioural risk factors for listeriosis in OzFoodNet sites.
- Describe the spectrum of illness in patients with listeriosis and to describe antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular subtypes of L. monocytogenes from these patients.
- The study will involve people in Australia diagnosed with L. monocytogenes who will be matched with individuals who do not have the disease.
Sporadic Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli infection in Australia
TIMEFRAME
START AUGUST 2003
ONGOING
STATUS:
Data collection in progress.Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) is an important cause of foodborne disease outbreaks overseas including large outbreaks of infection due to contaminated hamburger meat. Australia has also had outbreaks due to STEC with one outbreak associated with the consumption of contaminated mettwurst.
STEC organisms are common intestinal infections of ruminants such as cows and sheep. Food and the environment contaminated with STEC can be causes of infection as well as person to person transmission.
STEC infection can cause a range of illness from mild diarrhoea through to bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome, which can cause death. Young children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to infection.
Of the STEC infections, a large proportion is due to sporadic causes with no link to outbreaks. Currently, there is little information regarding sporadic causes of STEC infections particularly in Australia.
The purpose of this project is to conduct a case-control study to determine dietary, environmental and behavioural factors that increase the risk of developing a STEC infection.
The study aims to:
- Identify dietary, environmental and behavioural risk factors onsporadic human STEC infection.
- Describe the illness, epidemiological and microbiological characteristics of STEC infections.
- Provide background information for the development of control and prevention strategies aimed at reducing the incidence of STEC infection.
Page currency, Latest update: 30 July, 2007