Risk factors associated with sporadic salmonellosis in children: a case-control study in Lower Saxony, Germany, 2008-2011

We conducted a case-control study based on 884 laboratory-confirmed sporadic Salmonella cases reported to the German infectious disease notification system. For controls, we recruited 510 rotavirus cases via the same system. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed separately for children aged 0-3 years and 4-14 years. In both age groups, the highest odds ratios (OR) were found for raw ground pork consumption [0-3 years: OR 8.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.4-30.8; 4-14 years: OR 4.5, 95% CI 1.1-19]. Further risk factors were exposure to animals (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.1-2.1), consumption of poultry (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.1), food items containing eggs (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2) and black pepper (OR 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-3.5) in children aged 0-3 years, and consumption of uncooked pork sausage (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.4-9.3) in children aged 4-14 years. This study highlights the significance of raw pork products ('Mett' in German) as risk factors for sporadic salmonellosis in children in Germany.