Abstract
OBJECTIVESWater-borne diseases caused by Vibrio parahemolyticus are often known to cause gastritis when raw or undercooked seafood is eaten. It is very rare that Vibrio gastritis caused by ingesting non-seafood products occurs on a large scale. On September 19, 2017, a large-scale Vibrio gastritis occurred after the city residents consumed food at a bazaar held in a welfare center in Jungnang-gu, Seoul.METHODSThe total number of visitors was approximately 299, and 237 (79.3%) of them showed symptoms. Among those who showed symptoms, 116 (48.9%) consulted the hospital, and 53 (45.6%) were hospitalized. Among the 299 exposed individuals, 174 (58.1%) responded to this survey: 163 (93.6%) with and 11 (6.4%) without symptoms. This study was retrospectively conducted by investigating the exposed individuals. To investigate the spread of infection, medical staff of hospitals in the epidemic area were interviewed, exposed individuals surveyed, microbiological testing conducted, and ingredient handling and cooking processes investigated.RESULTSA total of 237 individuals, including 6 food handlers, were affected (prevalence, 79.2%). During the microbiological testing, V. parahemolyticus was found in 34 patients and 4 food handlers. In the consumption analysis, the relative risk of kimbap was 6.79 (confidence interval 1.10 to 41.69). In-depth investigation found that squid, an ingredient of Korean pancake, and egg sheets, an ingredient of kimbap, were prepared using the same cutting board and knife, which were thought to be the cause of cross-contamination that led to a large-scale outbreak of Vibrio gastritis.CONCLUSIONSA recent large-scale outbreak of Vibrio gastritis occurred due to the cross-contamination with kimbap during the preparation process of squid rather than the actual consumption of seafood. Thus, a more stringent hygiene management is necessary during the processing and management of food to prevent infections associated with V. parahemolyticus.
Highlights
Vibrio is a genus of Gram-negative basophilic bacteria shaped like a banana or comma [1]
A case was defined as an individual who has more than 2 occurrences of diarrhea or vomiting among those who consumed food provided in the bazaar
A total of 237 visitors were affected: 102 local residents; 23 government workers from Myeonmok-dong units 3, 4, 7, and 8; 53 personnel related to the community corporation (Emergency Call Bank, Yurin); 20 workers at Myeonmok Social Welfare Center; 4 workers at Jungnang Elderly Welfare Center; 11 from the elderly social activity groups; 7 volunteers; 3 from the welfare council; 5 civil society members in the Myeo-Jung S-W : Outbreak of enterocolitis caused by V. parahemolyticus nmok-dong; 2 workers at the Green Hospital; 3 workers at Seoul North Municipal Hospital; and 4 workers at the community dining
Summary
Vibrio is a genus of Gram-negative basophilic bacteria shaped like a banana or comma [1]. It is known as bacteria that exist main-. V. parahaemolyticus is a seafood-mediated representative and a water-borne food-meditated bacterium, with > 30 known O and K serotypes. Humans show characteristic hemolysin reaction, and 2 of these hemolysin genes promote diarrhea [1]. These genes are detected in > 90% of patients but < 1% in the environment or food [1]. Its incubation period after food consumption is between 4 and 96 hours
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