Stomach bugs kill more than estimated

People who have foodborne bacterial infections have an increased risk of death for up to one year. Helms and colleagues (p 357) used data from Danish registries to compare mortality in people infected with Salmonella, Campylobacter, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Shigella spp with mortality in the general population. After adjustment for coexisting illness, all four bacterial species were associated with increased mortality in the first 30 days after infection. Salmonella, Campylobacter, and Yersinia infections were associated with increased long term mortality. The authors conclude that the effect of gastrointestinal infections on public health in industrialised countries is underestimated.

(Credit: ALEXANDRA MURPHY/PHOTONICA)

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Relevant Article

Short and long term mortality associated with foodborne bacterial gastrointestinal infections: registry based study • Commentary: matched cohorts can be useful

Morten Helms, Pernille Vastrup, Peter Gerner-Smidt, Kåre Mølbak, and Stephen Evans
BMJ 2003 326: 357. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]