Aim: The purpose of the study is to assess the epidemiological situation of food poisonings and infections in Poland in 2015
Materials and methods: The evaluation was based on the analysis of information sent to Department of Epidemiology NIPH-NIH through ROE (Pol. Rejestr Ognisk Epidemicznych)- (an electronic system created for uploading, transfer and analysis of data acquired during the outbreak investigations). Additional sources for the analysis were NIZP-PZH annual bulletins (Czarkowski MP et al. “Infectious diseases and poisonings in Poland”, 2007-2015. Warsaw, NIPH-NIH and GIS)
Results: In 2015 a total number of 560 foodborne infections and intoxications outbreaks were reported in which 21 962 persons were exposed and 7 037 (including 1 896 children up to 14 years of age) got sick. Hospitalization was required for 1 905 of patients. The most frequent etiological agent was Salmonella sp. – 34.3%, and 21.4 % of cases). Viruses were responsible for 23.9% of outbreaks and 29.7 % of cases (And among them rotaviruses– 13% of outbreaks and 7.1% of cases and noroviruses– 10.5% of outbreaks and 26.9% of cases). In 25.2% of outbreaks no etiological agent was found. Just as in 2014 private household was the most frequent place of an outbreak (235 outbreaks), and after that– hospital (148 outbreaks). In 2014 the most frequent vehicle were cakes and desserts (25.6% of all outbreaks with known etiological agent). In 2015 the most frequent vehicle of infection were eggs and egg products) (19% of outbreaks of known vehicle). In 57.3% of outbreaks no vehicle was found or proved. Moreover in 2015 a total number of 4 outbreaks in which more than 100 cases were reported
Conclusions: The increase in the number of foodborne outbreaks of Salmonella Enteritidis etiology along with the fact of eggs and egg products being the most frequent vehicle indicates an alarming situation and the necessity of microbiological surveillance enchantment in relation to those products
Keywords: food poisonings and infections; foodborne outbreaks; epidemiology; Poland; 2015.