Increasing Incidence of Listeriosis in France and Other European Countries
Author Information
Author(s): Goulet Véronique, Hedberg Craig, Le Monnier Alban, de Valk Henriette
Primary Institution: Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint Maurice, France
Hypothesis
The cause of the increase in listeriosis among persons over 60 years of age in France is unknown.
Conclusion
The incidence of listeriosis in France has increased among persons over 60 years of age, particularly those over 70, while no large foodborne outbreaks have been identified.
Supporting Evidence
- The incidence of listeriosis in France increased from 3.5 cases/million in 2005 to 4.7 cases/million in 2006.
- Clusters of listeriosis cases were not linked to common-source outbreaks.
- An increase of 51% in cases was observed among persons over 60 years of age from 2001-2005 to 2006-2007.
Takeaway
More older people are getting sick from listeriosis, but we don't know why, and it's not because of big outbreaks of contaminated food.
Methodology
Surveillance of human listeriosis in France included mandatory reporting of cases and voluntary submission of strains to a national reference center.
Potential Biases
The increase in reported cases may not be due to better reporting or diagnostic practices.
Limitations
The study does not identify the specific causes of the increased incidence of listeriosis.
Participant Demographics
The increase in incidence primarily affects persons over 60 years of age, particularly those over 70.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.4–1.8
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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