J Agric Med Community Health.  2020 Jun;45(2):69-78. 10.5393/JAMCH.2020.45.2.069.

Epidemiological Investigation for Outbreak of Clostridium perfringens Enteritis among Students at a College in 2018

• Bae EJ
• Hwang SM
• Kwon GY
• Lee MS

• KMID: 2506387
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5393/JAMCH.2020.45.2.069

Abstract

Purpose
This study was conducted to provide the results of the epidemiological investigation for outbreak of Clostridium perfringens enteritis among students at a college in Sejong City.
Methods
This investigation was performed between May 25 and May 28, 2018. The Sejong City public health authority received a complaint which was about 40 university students experienced vomiting or diarrhea. We immediately set up an epidemiological investigation team and conducted a field epidemiological investigation.
Results
The overall incidence was 86 out of 153 (56.2%). The estimated risk exposure time was 12 o'clock on the previous day, and the cause was contaminated during distribution and storage of the lunch box provided for lunch on the day of the athletic competition, with 13 hours of average incubation period. The outbreak was closed on May 28, and the identified pathogen was Clostridium perfringens.
Conclusions
It was proposed that food poisoning by Clostridium perfringens was likely and contaminated during group meal.

Keyword

Clostridium perfringens; Enteritis; Lunch boxes; University students