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Aim
To provide information to plan and implement measures to control foodborne disease; to detect outbreaks of foodborne disease early; to identify groups or agencies which are more likely to spread foodborne infection and; to indicate the principle causes and vehicles of transmission of foodborne infection.
Review
This procedure will be reviewed in the event of any relevant significant changes as necessary and also as required by either Lanarkshire or Greater Glasgow & Clyde Health Boards.
Corrective Actions
If the procedure is not being adhered to corrective action will be taken which may include revision of the procedure or staff training, as appropriate.
Scope
Full epidemiological surveillance, based on an interview of each case, will be carried out on all microbiologically confirmed and, when required, other suspected cases of foodborne disease (including waterborne disease) with the exception of Campylobacter infections (unless associated with an actual or potential outbreak , or when requested by the Consultant in Public Health Medicine).
The epidemiological surveillance will be carried out by a member of the Department of Public Health of the relevant NHS Board when the case is in hospital or in a care home.
Procedure
On receipt of a notification from the relevant Health Board the Environmental Health Officer will visit to interview the case. The case will be contacted and visited on the basis of the following criteria:
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Immediately (including weekends) if it is confirmed microbiologically that a case has E.coli 0157, or other verocytotoxin producing E.coli (VTEC), or typhoid, or paratyphoid, or if there is a suspected or actual outbreak.
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Within one working day if a case has another enteric pathogen isolated.
The Officer visiting the case will carry out the following :
- Complete an epidemiological interview using the relevant Infectious Intestinal Disease Surveillance Programme Epidemiological Questionnaire.
- Give advice on food and personal hygiene.
- Assess the risk of further transmission of the infection (Cases and close contacts should be assessed if they belong to groups who are at higher risk - if so they may need to be excluded from nursery, school or work after consultation with the Consultant in Public Health Medicine).
- If necessary make arrangements for stool specimens to be obtained by issuing one stool specimen kit for each member of the family with symptoms who is considered to present a risk. (All those receiving kits should be asked to return them to their own G.P. after use and to telephone the G.P. after one week to obtain the result).
- Take a sample, if possible, of any foodstuff (including water) which is suspected to be associated with the case of foodborne disease and submit it to the appropriate laboratory for examination.
- Where contact with the case or immediate family is not achieved within the above time scale the Department of Public Health should be advised by telephone.
- On completion of the interview a copy of the Infectious Intestinal Disease Surveillance Programme Epidemiological Questionnaire will be sent to the Department of Public Health immediately by fax. However, in circumstances where the officer feels that immediate action to prevent further spread of the disease is required, or where there is evidence of unusual features such as an apparent outbreak, or links between sporadic cases, the Officer should telephone the Consultant in Public Health Medicine immediately to discuss the matter further.
- If necessary make arrangements for a follow-up inspection to be carried out of any implicated food premises.
- Due regard should be taken to relevant guidance given in protocols issued by Lanarkshire Health Board and Greater Glasgow Health & Clyde Health Board in respect of the epidemiological investigation of gastro-intestinal infections for the purpose of the surveillance of foodborne disease.
Date of Previous Review: 12/04/2006
Date of this Review: 07/08/2008
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