Estimated Numbers of Community Cases of Illness Due toSalmonella, Campylobacterand VerotoxigenicEscherichia Coli: Pathogen-Specific Community Rates

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Abstract
OBJECTIVE:To estimate the annual number of cases of illness due to verotoxigenicEscherichia coli(VTEC),SalmonellaandCampylobacterin the Canadian population, using data from the National Notifiable Disease registry (NND), estimates of under-reporting derived from several National Studies on Acute Gastrointestinal Illness, and the literature.METHODS:For each of the three pathogens (VTEC,SalmonellaandCampylobacter), data were used to estimate the percentage of cases reported at each step in the surveillance system. The number of reported cases in the NND for each pathogen was then divided by these percentages. In cases where the pathogen-specific estimates were unavailable, data on acute gastrointestinal illness were used, accounting for differences between those with bloody and nonbloody diarrhea.RESULTS:For every case of VTEC,SalmonellaandCampylobacterinfection reported in the NND, there were an estimated 10 to 47, 13 to 37, and 23 to 49 cases annually in the Canadian population, respectively.CONCLUSIONS:The authors estimate that a significant number of infections due to VTEC,SalmonellaandCampylobacteroccur each year in Canada, highlighting the fact that these enteric pathogens still pose a significant health burden. Recognizing the significant amount of under-reporting is essential to designing appropriate interventions and assessing the impact of these pathogens in the population.
Funding Information
  • Public Health Agency of Canada