Risk factors for sporadicVibrio parahaemolyticusgastroenteritis in east China: a matched case-control study

Abstract

SUMMARYTo determine risk factors for sporadicVibrio parahaemolyticusgastroenteritis, we conducted a population-based case-control study in sentinel hospital surveillance areas of Shanghai and Jiangsu province, China. Seventy-one patients with diarrhoea and confirmedV. parahaemolyticusinfections were enrolled, and they were matched with 142 controls for gender, age and residential area. From the multivariable analysis,V. parahaemolyticusinfections were associated with antibiotics taken during the 4 weeks prior to illness [odds ratio (OR) 8·1, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1·2–56·4)], frequent eating out (OR 3·3, 95% CI 1·1–10·1), and shellfish consumption (OR 3·2, 95% CI 1·0–9·9), with population-attributable fractions of 0·09, 0·25, and 0·14, respectively. Protective factors included keeping the aquatic products refrigerated (OR 0·4, 95% CI 0·1–0·9) and pork consumption (OR 0·2, 95% CI 0·1–0·8). Further study of the association ofV. parahaemolyticusgastroenteritis with prior antibiotic use and shellfish consumption is needed.