Intervention sensu Wilson: The only valid approach to microbiological safety of food

Abstract

Between December 25th 1983 and January 7th 1984 59 cases of dysentery bacteriologically proven to be caused by Shigella flexneri 2 occurred in the Netherlands. For a further 34 cases of gastroenteritis, strong epidemiological evidence was present to allow the diagnosis of shigellosis. In approximately 80 additional cases of gastroenteritis the disease was probably also caused by Shigella (Bijkerk, H., personal communication, 18th January 1984). The epidemic caused death in 14 patients, all aged over 70. The earliest sign of the epidemic came from a home for elderly people. 28 of the 208 residents and 2 of the 22 staff fell ill with fever and gastroenteritis.

The shrimp cocktail served at the Christmas dinner was suspected to be the source of infection. The history of other patients substantiated the aetiological role of the shrimps. The incriminated shrimps were imported in a peeled and frozen condition from the Far East. Subsequent bacteriological examination of shrimps presumably or alledgedly of the same shipment has, so far, failed to demonstrate the presence of Shigella flexneri. Lack of success is, of course, not unusual in attempts to isolate a sensitive pathogenic organism from a probably aetiologically involved food some time after an incident has occured [3, 15].