Food poisoning incidents in San Diego

Food Poisoning in San Diego

There are more than 200 known microbes that can lead to food poisoning in people (Paredez, 2009). While most people have heard of the more common E. coli and Salmonella, there are many others including certain bacterias that are found naturally in the soil. The common symptoms of food poisoning can be as minor as an upset stomach to actual fatality in serious cases. With the hottest part of summer approaching in San Diego, it is only a matter of time until the amount of food poisoning cases begin increasing. This paper will discuss the trends of food poisoning within the community of San Diego, California and how, as a nurse, the trends associated with the statistics can be decreased.

Community: San Diego, California is a bustling and very old city. Most of the buildings are from the 1950's and earlier. Toxins such as lead and asbestos are common in buildings and the surrounding soil. With the humid and relatively mild weather, there is a large pest population which includes roaches, spiders, roof rats, bats, and lizards. Even the local restaurants are primarily small mom-and-pop-owned restaurants typically in converted residences. Along with the normal residents, San Diego has a high homeless and an even higher tourist population, which keeps the local restaurants busy. Produce is also very affordable in San Diego County, especially with the farmer's market program offering customers fresh produce straight from the farms.

Along with all of these factors, San Diego also has prime farming ground and mild weather that allows crops to be grown year round. The majority of workers on these farms are day workers. While these workers work very hard, it is well-known that refuse and other bodily fluids tend to be a common contaminate within the farming industry. When these fluids and those of local wildlife come in contact with produce, the results are consistently food poisoning.

Demographic and Epidemiological Data: According to the Southern California Association of Governments, Southern California has grown by 12.81% increasing the population from 14.6 million to 16.5 million people (Southern California Association of Governments, 2010). With so many people living such close proximity, food poisoning is a regular occurrence. So regular in fact, that there are actual attorneys who specialize in food poisoning injury cases. The food poisoning outbreaks extend further than basic bacterial infections as well. Back in April of 2008, there was an outbreak of Hepatitis A that was linked to a local Chipotle's restaurant. (Entis, 2008).

Windshield Survey: The windshield survey was conducted on a Tuesday and a Saturday to get an idea of the various shifts in population. The immediate community reveals the vast differences in wealth. The primary street is all upper-class residences complete with a pristine view of Old Town San Diego, Mission Bay, and the ocean. Traveling down a steep hill places the observer into an old, beat-up area of flats and bars. Just a mile down the street is Old Town San Diego. During the week this area is empty with the exception of people coming and going for work. There are many homeless people who roam the streets and often sleep under the hedges of the local restaurants. With such disparate living conditions, it is most certainly a breading ground for bacteria. On Saturdays the entire atmosphere changes overnight. The homeless are escorted to shelters and the restaurants clean up for tourists. Once empty restaurants now have lines out front.

Everything else in this city is equally as old, damp, and overcrowded. The church buildings are small, the schools are very old, reminding me of schools from the 1950's. The grocery stores are equally old and dank. About the cleanest place that I observed was the outdoor farmer's market, which was bustling with people looking for great prices on produce.

It is these old, dirty, and overcrowded surroundings that can easily lead to food poisoning. In such a large city, with such mild climate, there are tons of pests, molds, and bacteria. Even in my own home I have to wash the dishes regularly or mold will develop within 48 hours. So, anything left out of the refrigerator for any large amount of time is going to harbor bacteria.

Problem: Food safety is a public health problem that is on the rise in San Diego. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Vibrio-related food poisoning is on the rise in California. Vibrio is a bacteria found in ocean water that is prevalent at much higher levels during the hot summer months. People become sick with this form of food poisoning by eating contaminated sea food, a very popular item in San Diego. The primary seafood culprits for this for of food poisoning are raw or undercooked oysters.

Historical Significance: Food safety has always been an issue in San Diego. According to the most recent CDC numbers, infections such as E. coli and Listeria are decreasing rapidly. However other bacteria such as salmonella and vibrio are on the rise. In fact, vibrio outbreaks have increased by 115% between 1998 and 2010, establishing a clear trend.