A HOSPITAL OUTBREAK OF CLOSTRIDIUM-PERFRINGENS FOOD POISONING - IMPLICATIONS FOR FOOD HYGIENE REVIEW IN HOSPITALS

An outbreak of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) food poisoning affected 17 of 44 (38.6%) patients interviewed on two hospital wards. A case-control study showed a statistically significant association b etween the consumption of roast pork and illness (P<0.01). C. perfring ens type A, untypable serotype, was isolated from samples of pre-cooke d vacuum sealed pork supplied by a local meat producer. Faults were no ted in the food production process at the factory. Cuts of meat were t oo large and equipment to ensure rapid cooling of cooked meat was not installed. Cost improvements taken by hospitals, such as the use of co mmercially cooked meat, may not be consistent with the highest standar ds of food safety. Amendments to the District Catering Policy were imp lemented to prevent further outbreaks.