Skip to main content

Infectious Dose and an Aging Population: Susceptibility of the Aged to Foodborne Pathogens

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Foodborne Pathogens

Part of the book series: Food Microbiology and Food Safety ((PRACT))

Abstract

The elderly (≥65 years of age) are a population of individuals highly susceptible to morbidity and mortality from infection by foodborne pathogens. The susceptibility to gastroenteritis in the older population is largely due to decreased immune function and age-associated bodily changes. Many of the elderly are also likely to have chronic diseases, which weaken the bodily defenses and increase the susceptibility to foodborne illness. World-wide demographic data indicate that the elderly population is increasing, and many elderly individuals will be institutionalized in long-term care centers. Therefore, personnel who handle food in long-term care facilities must be trained in food safety procedures, such as proper handling of food ingredients, preparation of cooked foods, and serving of food to prevent foodborne gastroenteritis. However, an increasing elderly population indicates that illness and death associated with foodborne pathogen gastroenteritis will increase in the future.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 149.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 199.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adedayo, O., & Kirkpatrick, B. D. (2008). Campylobacter jejuni infections: update on presentation, diagnosis, and management. Hospital Physician, 44(7), 9–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ajene, A. N., Fischer Walker, C. L., & Black, R. E. (2013). Enteric pathogens and reactive arthritis: a systematic review of Campylobacter, Salmonella and Shigella-associated reactive arthritis. Journal of Health, Population, and Nutrition, 3, 299–307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Amaya-Villar, R., Garcia-Cabrera, E., Sulleiro-Igujal, E., Fernández-Viladrich, P., Fontanais-Aymerich, D., Catalán-Aonnsa, P., et al. (2010). Three-year multicenter surveillance of community-acquired Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in adults. BMC Infectious Diseases, 10, 324.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Anon. (2011). Global health and aging. National Institute of Health, publication no. 11-7737.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anon. (2012). A profile of older Americans: 2012. U. S. Department of Health and Human Servives. http://www.aoa.gov/Aging_Statistics/Profile/2012/docs/2012profile.pdf. Accessed 3 Mar 2015.

  • Baker, M. G., Kvalsvig, A., Zhang, J., Lake, R., Sears, A., & Wilson, N. (2012). Declining Guillain-Barré syndrome after campylobacteriosis control, New Zealand, 1988-2010. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 18, 226–233.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Barrett, A. S., Jourdan-da Silva, N., Ambert-Balay, K., Delmas, G., Bone, A., Thiolet, J. M., & Vaillant, V. (2014). 2014 Surveillance for outbreaks of gastroenteritis in elderly long-term facilities in France, November 2010 to 2012. Euro Surveillance, 19(29), pii=20859.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Behravesh, C. B., Jones, T. F., Vugia, D. J., Long, C., Marcus, R., Smith, K., Thomas, S., Zansky, S., Fullerton, K. E., Henao, O. L., Scallan, E., & FoodNet Working Group. (2011). Deaths associated with bacterial pathogens transmitted commonly through food: Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network (FoodNet), 1996―2005. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 204, 263–267.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bruggink, L. D., Dunbar, N. L., & Marshall, J. A. (2015). Norovirus genotype diversity associated with gastroenteritis outbreaks in aged-care facilities. Epidemiology and Infection, 27, 1–5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caprioli, A., Morabito, S., Brugѐre, H., & Oswald, E. (2005). Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli: emerging issues on virulence and modes of transmission. Veterinary Research, 36, 289–311.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • CDC. (2011). Updated norovirus outbreak management and disease prevention guidelines. MMWR, 60(RR-3), 1–15.

    Google Scholar 

  • CDC. (2013). Vital Signs: Listeria illnlesses, deaths, and outbreaks ― United States, 2009-2011. MMWR, 62, 448–452.

    Google Scholar 

  • CDC. (2014). Foodborne diseases active surveillance network (FoodNet): FoodNet surveillance report for 2012 (final report). Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://www.cdc.gov/foodnet/PDFs/2012_annual_report_508c.pdf. Accessed 1 June 2015.

  • Cheung, V., & Trachtman, H. (2014). Hemolytic uremic syndrome: toxins, vessels, and inflammation. Frontiers in Medicene (Lausanne), 1, 42. doi:10.3389/fmed.2014.00042.

    Google Scholar 

  • Collins, S. M., Chang, C., & Mearin, F. (2012). Postinfectious chronic gut dysfunction: from bench to bedside. American Journal of Gastroenterology Supplement, 1, 2–8.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cummings, P. L., Sorvillo, F., & Kuo T. (2012). The Burden of Salmonellosis in the United States. In B. S. M. Mahmoud (Ed.), Salmonella – A dangerous foodborne pathogen (pp. 1–20). InTech. ISBN: 978-953-307-782-6, Available from: (http://www.intechopen.com/books/salmonella-a-dangerous-foodborne-pathogen/the-burden-of-salmonellosis-in-the-united-states title=“The Burden of Salmonellosis in the United States”>The Burden of Salmonellosis in the United States). Accessed 26 May 2015.

  • Desai, S. D., Savaliya, R. P., Gohil, D. Y., Patel, D. J., & Desai, D. G. (2010). Guillain-Barré syndrome and Campylobacter species. International Journal of PharmTech Research, 2, 2204–2209.

    Google Scholar 

  • Doyle, M. P., Erickson, M. C., Alali, W., Cannon, J., Deng, X., Ortega, Y., Smith, M. A., & Zhao, T. (2015, March 30). Food industry’s current and future role in preventing microbial foodborne illness within the United States. Clinical Infectious Diseases. Pii: civ253, 61, 252–259.

    Google Scholar 

  • DuPont, A. W. (2008). Postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 46, 594–599.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dzupova, O., Rozsypal, H., Smiskova, D., & Benes, J. (2013). Listeria monocytogenes meningitis in adults: the Czech Republic experience. BioMedical Research International, 2013, article ID 846186.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eckert, C., Burghoffer, B., & Barbut, F. (2013). Contamination of ready-to-eat raw vegetables with Clostridium difficile in France. Journal of Medical Microbiology, 62, 1435–1438.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • FDA. (2014). Yersinia enterocolitica, in Bad bug book, foodborne pathogenic microorganisms and natural toxins, 2nd ed. (http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/UCM297627.pdf). Accessed 26 May 2015.

  • Foley, R. N., & Collins, A. J. (2007). End-stage renal disease in the United States: an update from the United States Renal Data System. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology, 18, 2644–2648.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ford, L., Kirk, M., Glass, K., & Hall, G. (2014). Sequelae of foodborne illness caused by 5 pathogens, Australia, circa 2010. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 20, 1865–1871.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • FSIS/FDA. (2011). Fod safety for older adults. http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Food/FoodborneIllnessContaminants/UCM312790.pdf. Accessed 26 May 2015.

  • Gould, L. H., Demma, L. O., Jones, T. F., Hurd, S., Vugia, D. J., Smith, K., Shiferaw, B., Segler, S., Palmer, A., et al. (2009). Hemolytic uremic syndrome and death in persons with Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection, Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network Sites, 2000-2006. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 49, 1480–1485.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Grant, M. A., Hedberg, C., Johnson, R., Harris, J., Logue, C. M., Meng, J., Sofos, J. N., & Dickson, J. S. (2011). The significance of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in food. Food Protection Trends, 31, 33–45.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grieg, J. D., & Lee, M. B. (2009). Enteric outbreaks in long-term care facilities and recommendations for prevention: a review. Epidemiology and Infection, 137, 145–155.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haley, C. C., Ong, K. L., Hedberg, K., Cieslak, P. R., Scallan, E., Marcus, R., Shin, S., Cronquist, A., Gillesplie, J., Jones, T. F., et al. (2010). Risk factors for sporadic shigellosis, FoodNet 2005. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 7, 741–747.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, A. J. (2012). Noroviruses: the perfect human pathogen? The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 205, 1622–1624.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, A. J., Curns, A. T., McDonald, L. C., Parashar, U. D., & Lopman, B. A. (2012). The roles of Clostridium difficile and norovirus among gastroenteritis-associated deaths in the United States, 1999-2007. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 55, 21223.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, A. J., Wikswo, M. E., Manikonda, K., Roberts, V. A., Yoder, J. S., & Gould, L. H. (2013). Acute gastroenteritis surveillance through the National Outbreak Reporting System, United States. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 19, 1305–1309.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, R. B., Norman, K. N., Andrews, K., Hume, M. E., Scanlan, C. M., Callaway, T. R., Anderson, R. C., & Nisbit, D. J. (2011a). Clostridium difficile in poultry and poultry meat. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 8, 1321–1323.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Harvey, R. B., Norman, K. N., Andrews, K., Norby, B., Hume, M. E., Scanlan, C. M., Hardin, M. D., & Scott, H. M. (2011b). Clostridium difficile in retail meat and processing plants in Texas. Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation, 23, 807–811.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hensgens, M. P. M., Keessen, E. C., Squire, M. M., Rieley, T. V., Koene, M. G. J., de Boer, E., Lipman, L. J. A., & Kuijper, E. J. (2012). Clostridium difficile infection in the community: a zoonotic disease? Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 18, 635–645.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Huovinen, E., Sihvonen, L. M., Virtanen, M. J., Haukka, K., Siitonen, A., & Kuusi, M. (2010). Symptons and sources of Yersinia enterocolitica-infection: a case-control study. BMC Infectious Diseases, 10, 122.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Iwamoto, M., Ayers, T., Mahon, B. E., & Swerdlow, D. L. (2010). Epidemiology of seafood-associated infections in the United States. Clinical Microbiology Reviews, 23, 399–411.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jagai, J. S., Smith, G. S., Schmid, J. E., & Wade, T. J. (2014). Trends in gastroenteritis-associated mortality in the United States, 1985-2005: variations by ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes. BMC Gastroenterology, 14, 211.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Jones, T. F. (2010). When diarrhea gets deadly: a look at gastroenteritis outbreaks in nursing homes. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 51, 915–916.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kaper, J. B., & O’Brien, A. D. (2014). Overview and historical perspectives. Microbiology Spectrum, 2(2). doi:10.1128/microbiolspec.EHEC-0028-2014.

  • Kendall, P. A., Hillers, V. V., & Medeiros, L. C. (2006). Food safety guidance for older adults. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 42, 1298–1304.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk, M. D., Fullerton, K. E., Hall, G. V., Gregory, J., Staafford, R., Veitch, M. G., & Becker, N. (2010a). Surveillance for outbreaks of gastroenteritis in long-term care facilities, Australia, 2002-2008. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 51, 907–914.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk, M. D., Gregory, J., Lator, K., Hall, V., & Becker, N. (2012a). Foodborne and waterborne infections in the elderly community and long-term care facility residents, Victoria, Australia. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 18, 377–384.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk, M. D., Hall, G. V., & Becker, N. (2012b). Gastroenteritis in older people living in the community: Results of two Australian surveys. Epidemiology and Infection, 140, 2028–2036.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kirk, M. D., Veitch, M. G., & Hall, G. V. (2010b). Gastroenteritis and food-borne disease in elderly people living in long-term care. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 50, 397–404.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kornacki, J. L. (2010). Principles of microbiological troubleshooting in the industrial food processing environment. New York, NY: Springer.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Kornacki, J. L. (2014). Processing plant investigations: Practical approaches to determining sources of persistent bacterial strains in the industrial food processing environment. In J. B. Gurtler, M. P. Doyle, & J. L. Kornacki (Eds.), The microbiological safety of low water activity foods and spices (pp. 67–83). New York, NY: Springer.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lessa, F. C. (2013). Community-associated Clostridium difficile infection: How real is it? Anaerobe, 24, 121–123.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lund, B. M., & O’Brien, S. J. (2011). The occurrence and prevention of foodborne disease in vulnerable people. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 8, 961–973.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lund, B. M., & Peck, M. W. (2015). A possible route for foodborne transmission of Clostridium difficile? Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 12, 177–182.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Mayer, C. L., Leibowitz, C. S., Kurosawa, S., & Stearns-Kurosawa, D. J. (2012). Shiga toxin and the pathophysiology of hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans and animals. Toxins, 4, 1261–1287.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Minor, T., Lasher, A., Klontz, K., Brown, B., Narrdinelli, C., & Zorn, D. (2015). The per case and total annual costs of foodborne illness in the United States. Risk Analysis, 2015(35), 1125–1139.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Montecino-Rodriguez, E., Berent-Maoz, B., & Dorshkind, K. (2013). Causes, consequences, and reversal of immune system aging. The Journal of Clinical Investigation, 123, 958–965.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, S. L., Xu, J. Q., & Kochanek, K. D. (2012). Deaths: Preliminary data for 1010. National vital statistics reports, vol. 60, no. 4. Hyattsville, MD, National Center for Health Statistics.

    Google Scholar 

  • NACMCF (National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods). (2010). Response to questions posed by the Food Safety and Inspecrion Service regarding de termination of the most appropriate technologies for the Food Safety and Inspection Service to adopt in performing routine and baseline microbiological analyses. Journal of Food Protection, 73, 1160–1200.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Namkung, Y., Ismail, J. A., & Almanza, B. A. (2007). Mitigating the risk of food handling in the home-delivered meal program. Journal of the American Dietetic Association, 107, 316–320.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson, J. M., Bednarczyk, R., Nadle, J., Clogher, P., Gillespie, J., Daniels, A., Plantenga, M., Ingram, A., et al. (2008). Foodnet survey of food use and practices in long-term care facilities. Journal of Food Protection, 71, 365–372.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Newton, A., Kendall, M., Vugia, D. J., Henao, O. L., & Mahon, B. E. (2012). Increasing rates of vibriosis in the United States, 1996―2010: review of surveillance data from 2 systems. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 54(Suppl 5), 391–395.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nursing Home Data Compendium. (2013). Table 3.5b http://www.cms.gov/Medicare/Provider-Enrollment-and-certification/CertificationandComplianc/downloads/nursinghomedatacompendium_508.pdf). Accessed 26 May 2015.

  • Nyachuba, D. G. (2010). Foodborne illness: is it on the rise? Nutrition Reviews, 68, 257–269.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nyati, K. K., & Nyati, R. (2013). Role of Campylobacter jejuni infection in the pathogenesis of Guillain-Barré syndrome: an update. BioMedical Research International, 2013, article ID 852195, 13 pages.

    Google Scholar 

  • Popovic, I., Heron, B., & Covacin, C. (2014). Listeria: an Australian perspective (2001-2010). Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 11, 425–432.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Public Law. (2011). 111-353, FDA food safety modernization act. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-111publ353/pdf/PLAW-111publ353.pdf. Accessed 26 May 2011.

  • Rahman, A., Bonny, T. S., Stonsaovapak, S., & Ananchaipattana, C. (2011). Yersinia enterocolitica: Epidemiological studies and outbreaks. The Journal of Pathology, 2011, article ID 239391.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ray, P. E., & Liu, X.-H. (2001). Pathogenesis of Shiga toxin-induced hemolytic uremic syndrome. Pediatric Nephrology, 16, 823–839.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Reiss, G., Kunz, P., Koin, D., & Keeffe, E. B. (2006). Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection in nursing homes: review of literature and report of a recent outbreak. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 54, 680–684.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rossle, N. F., & Latif, B. (2013). Cryptosporidiosis as threatening health problem: a review. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine, 3, 916–924.

    Article  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Scallan, E., Crim, S. M., Runkle, A., Henao, O. L., Mahon, B. E., Hoekstra, R. M., & Griffin, P. M. (2015). Bacterial enteric infections among older adults in the United States: Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network, 1996-2012. Foodborne Pathogens and Disease, 12, 492–499.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Scallan, E., Hoekstra, R. M., Angulo, F. J., Tauxe, R. V., Widdowson, M.-A., Roy, S. L., Jones, J. L., & Griffin, P. M. (2011). Foodborne illness acquired in the United States—major pathogens. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 17, 7–15.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Schmid-Hempel, P., & Frank, S. A. (2007). Pathogenesis, virulence, and infective dose. PLoS Pathogens, 3, 1372–1373.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Scott, E. (2003). Food safety and foodborne disease in 21st century homes. Canadian Journal of Infectious Diseases, 14, 277–280.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Silva, J., Leite, D., Fernandes, M., Mena, C., Gibbs, P. A., & Teixeira, P. (2011). Campylobacter spp. as a foodborne pathogen: a review. Frontiers in Microbiology, 2, article 200.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. L. (1998). Foodborne illness in the elderly. Journal of Food Protection, 61, 1229–1239.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. L., & Bayles, D. (2007). Postinfectious irritable bowel syndrome: a long-term consequence of bacterial gastroenteritis. Journal of Food Protection, 70, 1762–1769.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Smith, J. L., Liu, Y., & Paoli, G. C. (2013). How does Listeria monocytogenes combat acid conditions? Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 59, 141–152.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tarr, P. I. (2009). Shiga toxin-associated hemolytic uremic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura: distinct mechanisms of pathogenesis. Kidney International, 75(Suppl 112), S29–S32.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thabane, M., Kottachchi, D. T., & Marshall, J. K. (2007). Systemic review and meta-analysis: the incidence and prognosis of post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome. Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 26, 535–544.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Townes, J. M. (2010). Reactive arthritis after enteric infections in the United States: the problem of definition. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 50, 247–254.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tractman, H. (2013). HUS and TTP in children. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 60, 1513–1516. doi:10.1016/j.pcl.2013.08.007.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verhoef, L., Hewitt, J., Barclay, L., Ahmed, S. M., Laake, R., Hall, A. J., Lopman, B., Kroneman, A., Vennema, H., Vinjé, J., & Koopmans, M. (2015). Norovirus genotype profiles, associated with foodborne transmission, 1999―2012. Emerging Infectious Diseases, 21, 592–599.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Vincent, G. K., & Velkoff, V. A. (2010). The next four decades, The older population in the United States: 2010 to 2050, current population reports (pp. 25–1138). Washington, DC: U.S. Census Bureau.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, N. L. W., & Worosz, M. R. (2014). Zero tolerance rules in food safety and quality. Food Policy, 45, 112–115.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yakob, L., Riley, T. V., Paterson, D. L., & Clements, A. C. A. (2013). Clostridium difficile exposure as an insidious source of infection in healthcare settings: An epidemiological model. BMC Infectious Diseases, 13, 376.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to James L. Smith .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Smith, J.L. (2017). Infectious Dose and an Aging Population: Susceptibility of the Aged to Foodborne Pathogens. In: Gurtler, J., Doyle, M., Kornacki, J. (eds) Foodborne Pathogens. Food Microbiology and Food Safety(). Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56836-2_16

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics