A PILOT-STUDY OF INFECTIOUS INTESTINAL DISEASE IN ENGLAND

Pilot, studies to test methods to determine the incidence, agents, ris k factors and socioeconomic costs of infectious intestinal disease (II D) in England mere carried out as recommended by the Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (the Richmond Committee) by eight gener al practices. There were case control and enumeration studies of patie nts presenting to general practice with IID, a population-based prospe ctive cohort study, and a survey of socioeconomic costs of cases of II D. Information on risk factors was obtained by questionnaire (self-adm inistered compared with interview) and a stool sample was requested on all cases and controls. Response rates in the GP case control study w ere 75 % for case questionnaires and 79 % for stools; for controls the figures were 70 % and 68 % respectively. The acceptance rate into the cohort study was 49 %; this was significantly higher where phone cont act was made. The rate was similar if recruitment was by individual or household. Follow-up of the cohort by negative reporting was complete for up to 6 months. Direct postage by subject was required to obtain fresh stool specimens. Estimates were obtained of presentation rates o f IID and the distribution of risk factors which were used to plan the main study. The pilot study demonstrated that it is possible to under take a national study based in general practice to determine the incid ence of IID in the population and presenting to GPs and its agents, ri sk factors and costs.