[Hospital outbreak of salmonellosis with secondary cases]

Food poisoning by Salmonella in hospitals and other health care centers is not uncommon and occasionally results in high mortality rates. We report an outbreak of food poisoning that took place in June 1987 in a hospital. A staff relay was primarily affected, with an attack rate of 59.3%. The mean incubation period was 31.2 hours. The epidemiological evidence pointed to a rice with milk served as a dessert as the transmitting vehicle, although the contamination source could not be identified. Subsequently, 11 days after the start of the outbreak, 9 cases were identified among the patients cared for at the center, which were considered as secondary cases. The causative organism was Salmonella (serovariety enteritidis, phage type A). All the involved individuals had a favorable outcome. The transmission of the mentioned organism within the hospital milieu has not been previously reported. In food poisoning developing in health care centers, the exposed individuals should be extremely careful and absolutely conscious of the need for complying with hygienic rules. In our area, we recommend sick leave while symptoms persist or the culture of feces is positive.