Incidence and trends of infection with pathogens transmitted commonly through food - foodborne diseases active surveillance network, 10 U.S. sites, 1996-2012

Abstract

Foodborne diseases are an important public health problem in the United States. The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network* (FoodNet) conducts surveillance in 10 U.S. sites for all laboratory-confirmed infections caused by selected pathogens transmitted commonly through food to quantify them and monitor their incidence. This report summarizes 2012 preliminary surveillance data and describes trends since 1996. A total of 19,531 infections, 4,563 hospitalizations, and 68 deaths associated with foodborne diseases were reported in 2012. For most infections, incidence was highest among children aged <5 years; the percentage of persons hospitalized and the percentage who died were highest among persons aged ≥65 years. In 2012, compared with the 2006-2008 period, the overall incidence of infection† was unchanged, and the estimated incidence of infections caused by Campylobacter and Vibrio increased. These findings highlight the need for targeted action to address food safety gaps.

FIGURE 1

Estimated percentage change in incidence of laboratory-confirmed bacterial and parasitic infections in 2012 compared with average annual incidence during 2006–2008, by pathogen — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, United States Abbreviations: CI = confidence interval; STEC = Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli. ^* No significant change = 95% CI is both above and below the no change line; significant increase = estimate and entire CI are above the no change line; significant decrease = estimate and entire CI are below the no change line.

FIGURE 2

Relative rates of laboratory-confirmed infections with Campylobacter, STEC^* O157, Listeria, Salmonella, and Vibrio compared with 1996–1998 rates, by year — Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, United States, 1996–2012^{† *} Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli. ^† The position of each line indicates the relative change in the incidence of that pathogen compared with 1996–1998. The actual incidences of these infections cannot be determined from this figure.