Table 2.
Estimated Annual Deaths and Health Care Utilization (Counts and Rates/100,000 Population) Attributed to Select Foodborne Pathogen Hazard-Disease Pairings in Ontario
| Hazard and diseasea,b | ED visits | Hospitalizations | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (90% PI) | Mean (90% PI) | Mean (90% PI) | |
| Counts | |||
| Nonspecific gastroenteritis | 40,000 (14,000–67,000) | 6200 (2100–10,300) | 59 (20–103) |
| Food poisoning | 550 (360–750) | 42 (33–48) | <1 |
| Salmonella spp. (nontyphoidal) infection | 110 (70–150) | 140 (90–200) | 1 (0–3) |
| Campylobacter spp. intestinal infection | 90 (60–120) | 90 (50–130) | <1 |
| Campylobacter-associated GBS | 25 (9–49) | 35 (13–62) | 1 (0–2) |
| Listeria monocytogenes infection | 19 (3–77) | 28 (18–48) | 3 (1–8) |
| Hepatitis A virus infection | 16 (4–30) | 14 (4–26) | <1 |
| Norovirus intestinal infection | 12 (2–35) | 24 (5–61) | 1 (0–3) |
| VTEC-associated HUS | <10 | 23 (15–33) | <1 |
| Other specific pathogens | 24 (17–33) | 31 (21–40) | <1 |
| All specific pathogens | 300 (230–390) | 380 (300–470) | 8 (4–13) |
| All pairings | 41,000 (15,000–68,000) | 6600 (2600–10,700) | 67 (28–110) |
| Rates (per 100,000 population) | |||
| Nonspecific gastroenteritis | 310 (110–520) | 47 (16–79) | 0.45 (0.15–0.78) |
| Food poisoning | 4.2 (2.6–5.7) | 0.32 (0.25–0.37) | <0.01 |
| Salmonella spp. (nontyphoidal) infection | 0.84 (0.53–1.18) | 1.1 (0.7–1.5) | <0.01 |
| Campylobacter spp. intestinal infection | 0.69 (0.44–0.94) | 0.66 (0.41–0.95) | <0.01 |
| Campylobacter-associated GBS | 0.19 (0.07–0.37) | 0.26 (0.10–0.48) | <0.01 |
| Listeria monocytogenes infection | 0.15 (0.03–0.59) | 0.22 (0.13–0.37) | 0.025 (0.007–0.065) |
| Hepatitis A virus infection | 0.12 (0.03–0.23) | 0.11 (0.03–0.20) | <0.01 |
| Norovirus intestinal infection | <0.1 | 0.19 (0.04–0.46) | <0.01 |
| VTEC-associated HUS | <0.1 | 0.17 (0.11–0.25) | <0.01 |
| Other specific pathogens | 0.19 (0.13–0.25) | 0.23 (0.16–0.31) | <0.01 |
| All specific pathogens | 2.3 (1.8–3.0) | 2.9 (2.3–3.6) | 0.058 (0.028–0.102) |
| All pairings | 310 (110–520) | 50 (20–82) | 0.51 (0.21–0.84) |
We reported results for the 7 pathogen-specific pairings responsible for at least 10 ED visits, 10 hospitalizations, or 1 death per year (mean count). The remaining six pathogen-specific pairings are summarized as other specific pathogens. Results may not add up due to rounding (to two significant figures for results above reporting thresholds).
Foodborne nonspecific gastroenteritis and food poisoning were responsible for 137,000 (90% PI 47,000–227,000) and 2200 (90% PI 2000–2400) physician office visits, respectively (mean annual estimates). The corresponding physician office visit rates per 100,000 population were 1000 (90% PI 400–1700) and 16 (90% PI 15–18), respectively (mean annual estimates).
ED, emergency department; GBS, Guillain-Barré syndrome; HUS, hemolytic-uremic syndrome; PI, prediction interval; VTEC, verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli.