1. Usefulness of seroconversion rates for comparing infection pressures between countries.
- Author
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Simonsen J, Teunis P, van Pelt W, van Duynhoven Y, Krogfelt KA, Sadkowska-Todys M, and Mølbak K
- Subjects
- Cross-Sectional Studies, Denmark epidemiology, Epidemiologic Methods, Foodborne Diseases microbiology, Humans, Incidence, Netherlands epidemiology, Poland epidemiology, Seroepidemiologic Studies, Antibodies, Bacterial blood, Foodborne Diseases diagnosis, Foodborne Diseases epidemiology, Salmonella Infections diagnosis, Salmonella Infections epidemiology
- Abstract
Salmonella is a frequent cause of foodborne illness. However, since most symptomatic cases are not diagnosed, the true infection pressure is unknown. Furthermore, national surveillance systems have different sensitivities that limit inter-country comparisons. We have used recently developed methods for translating measurements of Salmonella antibodies into estimates of seroincidence: the frequency of infections including asymptomatic cases. This methodology was applied to cross-sectional collections of serum samples obtained from the general healthy population in three European countries. Denmark and The Netherlands had the lowest seroincidence (84,169 infections/1000 person-years), whereas Poland had the highest seroincidence (547/1000 person-years). A Bayesian method for obtaining incidence rate ratios was developed; this showed a 6·3 (95% credibility interval 3·3-12·5) higher incidence in Poland than in Denmark which demonstrates that this methodology has a wider applicability for studies of surveillance systems and evaluation of control programmes.
- Published
- 2011
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