Epidemiological investigation of a food poisoning outbreak: a study among hostel dwelling students and resident doctors of a tertiary healthcare facility of India

Authors

  • Chandramani Singh All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar
  • Bijit Biswas All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7609-6446
  • Naveen KG All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar
  • Haripriya Hari All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar
  • Sanjay Pandey All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar
  • Bijaya Nanda Naik All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Patna, Bihar

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47203/IJCH.2021.v33i03.013

Keywords:

Disease Outbreaks, Foodborne Diseases, Epidemiological Investigation, Students, Resident Doctors, Vomiting

Abstract

Background: During second week of February, 2021 several cases of food poisoning were reported from hostels of a tertiary healthcare facility, thus this epidemiological investigation was undertaken, to confirm existence of a food poisoning outbreak, describe cases as per person, place, time and predominant food source, identify the attributes associated with the outbreak. Methods: To investigate the suspected food poisoning outbreak, an online unmatched case control study was conducted among 440 hostel dwelling students and resident doctors of a tertiary healthcare facility of eastern India during February, 2021. Results: The proportion of the study subjects who reported to have experienced food poisoning symptoms was 23.9%. Most of the food poisoning event reported to have occurred during 10th February, 2021 (26.6%). In the multivariable logistic regression model, predominant consumption of food from girls’ hostel mess [adjusted odds ratio (AOR): 7.83 (1.58-38.79)] and canteen 1 [AOR: 4.83 (1.13-20.69)] were found to be multivariable predictors of food poisoning events adjusted with age, gender, designation and residing hostel. Conclusion: One in every four study participants opined to have experienced food poisoning symptoms during the study period. This confirmed the existence of a multi-source food poisoning outbreak in the study population.

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References

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Published

2021-09-30

How to Cite

1.
Singh C, Biswas B, KG N, Hari H, Pandey S, Naik BN. Epidemiological investigation of a food poisoning outbreak: a study among hostel dwelling students and resident doctors of a tertiary healthcare facility of India. Indian J Community Health [Internet]. 2021 Sep. 30 [cited 2024 Mar. 28];33(3):480-5. Available from: https://www.iapsmupuk.org/journal/index.php/IJCH/article/view/2066

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