Salmonellosis associated with 'Combi-oven' cooked egg

During July 1989, four cases of Salmonella enteritidis (later identified as PT24) infection were reported by laboratories in Bristol. All those infected had dined at a restaurant in the city. An epidemiological investigation revealed that a number of restaurant staff and 56 customers who had completed a questionnaire had also been ill with gastrointestinal illness. An association was found between illness and eating egg mayonnaise. A 'Combi-oven' egg-cooking technique has been identified as the most likely cause of this outbreak. In view of the widespread commercial use of this cooking method the evidence related to this outbreak is given in detail.