Bacterial Enteric Infections Among Older Adults in the United States: XXXX Active Surveillance Network, 1996-2012.

@entity1 @entity6766 @entity5125 @entity281 @entity27134 @entity5746 @entity204 @entity526
BACKGROUND: A growing segment of the population-adults aged >= 65 years-is more susceptible than younger adults to certain enteric (including foodborne) @entity281 and experience more severe disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using data on laboratory-confirmed @entity281 from the @entity6766 Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), we describe trends in the incidence of Campylobacter spp., @entity526 O157, @entity5125 , and @entity5746 in adults aged >= 65 years over time and by age group and sex. We used data from FoodNet and other sources to estimate the total number of illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the United States caused by these @entity281 each year using a statistical model to adjust for underdiagnosis (taking into account medical care-seeking, stool sample submission, laboratory practices, and test sensitivity). RESULTS: From 1996 to 2012, 4 pathogens caused 21,405 laboratory-confirmed @entity281 among older adults residing in the FoodNet surveillance area; 49.3% were hospitalized, and 2.6% died. The average annual rate of @entity281 was highest for @entity5746 (12.8/100,000) and Campylobacter (12.1/100,000). @entity5746 and Listeria led as causes of @entity204 . Among older adults, rates of laboratory-confirmed @entity281 and the percentage of @entity1 who were hospitalized and who died generally increased with age. A notable exception was the rate of @entity27134 , which decreased with increasing age. Adjusting for underdiagnosis, we estimated that these pathogens caused about 226,000 illnesses (   600/100,000) annually among U.S. adults aged >= 65 years, resulting in   9700 hospitalizations and    500 deaths. CONCLUSIONS: Campylobacter, @entity526 O157, Listeria, and @entity5746 are major contributors to illness in older adults, highlighting the value of effective and targeted intervention.
