Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network-2 Decades of Achievements, 1996-2015

Abstract

The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet) provides a foundation for food safety policy and illness prevention in the United States. FoodNet conducts active, population-based surveillance at 10 US sites for laboratory-confirmed infections of 9 bacterial and parasitic pathogens transmitted commonly through food and for hemolytic uremic syndrome. Through FoodNet, state and federal scientists collaborate to monitor trends in enteric illnesses, identify their sources, and implement special studies. FoodNet's major contributions include establishment of reliable, active population-based surveillance of enteric diseases; development and implementation of epidemiologic studies to determine risk and protective factors for sporadic enteric infections; population and laboratory surveys that describe the features of gastrointestinal illnesses, medical care-seeking behavior, frequency of eating various foods, and laboratory practices; and development of a surveillance and research platform that can be adapted to address emerging issues. The importance of FoodNet's ongoing contributions probably will grow as clinical, laboratory, and informatics technologies continue changing rapidly.

Keywords: EIP; Emerging Infections Program; FoodNet; Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network; bacteria; enteric infections; foodborne infections; hemolytic uremic syndrome; laboratory-based surveillance; parasites.

Figure 1

The Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network Surveillance Area, United States, 2004–present.

Figure 2

Relative rates of culture-confirmed infections with Campylobacter, Escherichia coli O157, Listeria, Salmonella, Vibrio, and Yersinia compared with 1996–1998 rates, Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, United States, 1996–2014. 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 graph. Data for 2014 are preliminary.