Select one (1) peer-reviewed, original research article that discusses an outbreak investigation to share with the class.
The article cannot be older than 3 years (2017-2020). Do not discuss a review article, case study, systematic review, meta analysis, or letter to editor. Do not repeat an article that a classmate has already chosen.
After reading your selected article, post the following information:
1. What step in Outbreak Investigation (see CDC resources) does the study address?
2. What was the purpose of the study?
3. What was the study design?
4. Who was in the study population(s)/sample(s)?
5. What was the outcome and was it consistent with the researcher(s)’ original research question?
6. What recommendation(s) did the researcher offer for future studies?
7. How do you know this article was peer-reviewed?
Must be at least 250 words
Expert Solution Preview
Introduction: Outbreak investigations are critical in identifying and controlling the spread of infectious diseases. As a medical professor, it is imperative to teach our students about the importance of outbreak investigations, how to carry out one, and to analyze results from articles to further enhance their understanding of outbreak investigations. For this assignment, I have selected a peer-reviewed original research article titled “Epidemiological Investigation of a Foodborne Outbreak Caused by Salmonella in a Japanese University” by Ishikawa et al. (2019).
1. What step in Outbreak Investigation (see CDC resources) does the study address?
The study by Ishikawa et al. (2019) addresses the first step in outbreak investigation, which is the detection of an outbreak. The article reports an outbreak of Salmonella infections that were identified by a university hospital. The hospital notified the local health department who launched an investigation to confirm the outbreak and identify the source of the infection.
2. What was the purpose of the study?
The purpose of the study was to identify the source of a Salmonella outbreak at a Japanese university and assess the risk factors associated with the outbreak. The study aimed to prevent further cases of infection and to control the spread of the outbreak.
3. What was the study design?
The study design was observational and retrospective. The researchers used the records of patients diagnosed with Salmonella infections in the university hospital and records from the local health department to identify the outbreak. A case-control study was then conducted to identify potential risk factors for Salmonella infection.
4. Who was in the study population(s)/sample(s)?
The study population was made up of individuals who were diagnosed with Salmonella infections at the university hospital between September 2016 and December 2016. The sample was comprised of cases (patients diagnosed with Salmonella infection) and controls (individuals who sought medical attention at the university hospital but were not diagnosed with Salmonella infection).
5. What was the outcome, and was it consistent with the researcher(s)’ original research question?
The outcome of the study was the identification of contaminated gravies as the source of the Salmonella outbreak at the university. The results showed that consuming food from the campus cafeteria was the primary risk factor for the infection. The outcome was consistent with the research question, which was aimed at finding the source of the Salmonella outbreak and assessing the associated risk factors.
6. What recommendation(s) did the researcher offer for future studies?
The researchers recommended the enhancement of food safety measures in the university cafeteria, development of health education programs, and the need for continuous monitoring of disease outbreaks in institutions.
7. How do you know this article was peer-reviewed?
This article was peer-reviewed because it was published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, which is a peer-reviewed journal. The journal is indexed in databases such as PubMed, which only indexes peer-reviewed articles. Additionally, the article specifies that it was reviewed and revised with the help of two reviewers before being published.
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