Descriptive epidemiology of infectious gastrointestinal illnesses in Sydney, Australia, 2007–2010

Authors

  • Stephanie Fletcher Public Health Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District; Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • David Sibbritt Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Damien Stark Division of Microbiology, SydPath, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; The iThree Institute and School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • John Harkness Division of Microbiology, SydPath, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia; The iThree Institute and School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • William Rawlinson Microbiology Department, South Eastern Area Laboratory Service (SEALS), Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, The University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • David Andresen Department of Microbiology, Children’s Hospital at Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  • Sebastian Van Hal Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
  • Juan Merif Microbiology Department, South Eastern Area Laboratory Service (SEALS), Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
  • John Ellis The iThree Institute and School of Medical and Molecular Biosciences, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5365/wpsar.2015.6.2.006

Abstract

Objective: There is a lack of information about the prevalence of gastrointestinal illnesses in Australia. Current disease surveillance systems capture only a few pathogens. The aim of this study is to describe the epidemiology of infectious gastrointestinal illnesses in Sydney, Australia.

Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of patients with gastrointestinal symptoms who visited tertiary public hospitals in Sydney was conducted between 2007 and 2010. Patients with diarrhoea or loose stools with an enteric pathogen detected were identified. Demographic, clinical and potential risk factor data were collected from their medical records. Measures of association, descriptive and inferential statistics were analysed.

Results: In total, 1722 patients were included in this study. Campylobacter (22.0%) and Clostridium difficile (19.2%) were the most frequently detected pathogens. Stratified analysis showed that rotavirus (22.4%), norovirus (20.7%) and adenovirus (18.1%) mainly affected children under 5 years; older children (5–12 years) were frequently infected with Campylobacter spp. (29.8%) and non-typhoid Salmonella spp. (24.4%); infections with C. difficile increased with age.Campylobacter and non-typhoid Salmonella spp. showed increased incidence in summer months (December to February), while rotavirus infections peaked in the cooler months (June to November).

Discussion: This study revealed that gastrointestinal illness remains a major public health issue in Sydney. Improvement of current disease surveillance and prevention and control measures are required. This study emphasizes the importance of laboratory diagnosis of enteric infections and the need for better clinical data collection to improve management of disease risk factors in the community.

Author Biography

Stephanie Fletcher, Public Health Unit, South Western Sydney Local Health District; Faculty of Health, University of Technology, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Public Health (Biopreparedness) Epidemiologist

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Published

06-10-2015

How to Cite

1.
Fletcher S, Sibbritt D, Stark D, Harkness J, Rawlinson W, Andresen D, Van Hal S, Merif J, Ellis J. Descriptive epidemiology of infectious gastrointestinal illnesses in Sydney, Australia, 2007–2010. Western Pac Surveill Response J [Internet]. 2015 Oct. 6 [cited 2026 Apr. 3];6(4). Available from: https://ojs.wpro.who.int/ojs/index.php/wpsar/article/view/345

Issue

Vol. 6 No. 4 (2015): October – December

Section

Original Research

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