RESEARCH PAPER
Foodborne infections and intoxications in Poland in 2021-2023
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Zakład Epidemiologii Chorób Zakaźnych i Nadzoru, Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
Submission date: 2026-02-10
Final revision date: 2026-02-25
Acceptance date: 2026-02-27
Online publication date: 2026-03-03
Corresponding author
Ewelina Księżak
Zakład Epidemiologii Chorób Zakaźnych i Nadzoru, Narodowy Instytut Zdrowia Publicznego PZH – Państwowy Instytut Badawczy
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ABSTRACT
Background: Food and waterborne diseases are a significant Public Health problem. In recent years, their epidemiology has been influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing burden of Clostridioides difficile infections (CDI). Objective: Assessment of epidemiological situation of foodborne infections and intoxications in Poland in 2021-2023. Material and methods: Routine surveillance data collected by the District Sanitary and Epidemiological Stations (PSSE) through the Registry of Epidemic Outbreaks and data from the bulletins “Infectious Diseases and Poisonings in Poland” (2021-2023) were analyzed. Incidence, etiology, outbreak settings and hospitalization rates were assessed. Results: In 2021-2023, an increase in the number of cases of bacterial infections and intoxications was registered (over 90,000 cases, incidence 80.2/100,000) related to an increase in Clostridioides difficile infections (56.4/100,000 in 2023 vs. median 29.5/100,000 in 2015-2019). Also, there was an increase in listeriosis incidence. Among viral infections most prevalent were rotaviral infections, with an increase in 2022 and a decrease in 2023 and incidence between 15.7-20.1/100,000. Between 2021 and 2023, 2,722 foodborne outbreaks were reported, in which 20,102 cases occurred (compared to 2,767 outbreaks and 22,681 cases between 2017 and 2019). Majority of outbreaks were of bacterial etiology (53%), among which the most prevalent were salmonellosis outbreaks, and in this category 80% were S. Enteritidis outbreaks. Proportion of Clostridioides difficile outbreaks was 21.5% (16.5% of all outbreak cases), in medical facilities, outbreaks of this aetiology accounted for 78% of outbreaks. Overall, 27.9% of outbreak cases were hospitalized, most frequently in CDI and hepatitis A outbreaks. Outbreaks occurred mainly in household settings; however, most cases occurred in food-serving facilities and medical facilities. Conclusions: In 2021-2023, the number of foodborne infections and intoxications outbreaks was comparable with the pre-pandemic period, but its aetiology-related structure changed (increases in CDI and viral etiology outbreaks. Those results may confirm the need of ongoing surveillance enhancement and laboratory diagnostic capacity development.