Food Poisoning Epidemiological Report (Case Study Sample)

Food Poisoning Epidemiological Report
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Background and History
Epidemiology utilizes quantities methods to analyze disease outbreaks and guide the preventive strategies that the health community will put in place. In the above case incident, six food poisoning cases were reported on two consecutive days involving children studying in Saleem bin Essa primary school in Riyadh. Food poisoning arises from the intake of juices and sandwiches and probably food carried from home. Two that were reported school days were handled by the school nurse while the rest received help from nearby health facilities. Riyadh has numerous health facilities that can handle cases of similar nature including; Health Oasis Hospital, Riyadh Care Hospital, Wazarat Health Centre, Riyadh Medical Hospital, and Health Centre (MOH) Muraba among many others.
A study was conducted in Riyadh in 1983 where 250 children were diagnosed with food poisoning and admitted to Children and Maternity Hospital in Riyadh. the age range of the children was from 1 to 13 years. clinical examination and history were used to confirm food poisoning where the presence of bacteria in suspected food and gastric aspirates was confirmed (Aunullah, Al-Swailam & Bahakim et al.,1987). Food poisoning incidence clinically diagnosed in the hospital of all the admission annually accounts for 4% but was 5.5 % during the year of study. Total admission cases constituted 4.6 % of bacteria. Food items that were commonly contaminated included rice 5.4%, eggs 8.6 %, milk products 68%, desserts 7.2%, and meat 10.8%. Predominant causative agents included (59.57%) Staphylococcus aureus, (7.83%) Clostridium perfringens, and (13.04%) Bacillus cereus. Riyadh does not have surveillance programs that are operating and reporting is poor.