Clostridium perfringens Foodborne Outbreak during an Athletic Event in Northern Greece, June 2019

Kassiani Mellou, Maria Kyritsi, Anthi Chrysostomou, Theologia Sideroglou, Theano Georgakopoulou and Christos Hadjichristodoulou
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Kassiani Mellou: National Public Health Organisation (EODY), 15123 Athens, Greece
Maria Kyritsi: Regional Public Health Laboratory (PEDY) of Thessaly, 41221 Thessaly, Greece
Anthi Chrysostomou: National Public Health Organisation (EODY), 15123 Athens, Greece
Theologia Sideroglou: National Public Health Organisation (EODY), 15123 Athens, Greece
Theano Georgakopoulou: National Public Health Organisation (EODY), 15123 Athens, Greece
Christos Hadjichristodoulou: Regional Public Health Laboratory (PEDY) of Thessaly, 41221 Thessaly, Greece

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-5

Abstract: Background: Food safety is a major public health consideration during athletic events. On 27 June 2019, the Hellenic National Public Health Organization was notified of a cluster of gastroenteritis cases among athletes of four of the 47 teams participating at the Panhellenic Handball Championship for children. Methods: A retrospective cohort study among the members of the four teams was performed. The local public health authority visited the restaurants where common meals took place, amassed information on the preparation of meals, and collected samples of leftovers. Stool samples were tested for Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. Results: Consumption of minced beef had a statistically significant association with disease occurrence [RR:8.29 (95%CI 1,31-52,7)]. Samples of meat were found positive for Clostridium perfringens . It was documented that the meat was not stored and re-heated as indicated. Stool samples were negative for Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. and were not tested for the Clostridium perfringens toxin. Conclusion: Specific standards should be kept to prevent outbreaks during athletic events. This was the first time that a foodborne outbreak due to Clostridium perfringens was investigated in the country. Laboratory investigation for toxins should be enhanced, especially in foodborne outbreaks where clinical manifestations of cases are found to be compatible with infection caused by a toxin.

Keywords: Clostridium perfringens; toxin; outbreak; foodborne; mass gathering; athletic event (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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