[Salmonella enteritidis, an emergent pathogen in Chile]

Salmonella enteritidis infections have increased worldwide in the last years. Isolation of this pathogen was remarkably rare in Chile until 1994, when the still ongoing outbreak emerged.

To assess the main epidemiological characteristics of the Salmonella enteritidis epidemic in Chile.

Cases of clinical infections by Salmonella enteritidis were recorded from bacteriological and demographic notifications obtained at The National Reference Laboratory for Enterobacteria. Infection rates were calculated using the total Chilean population and the population of the different Health Services along the country.

Until 1993, 13.67 Salmonella enteritidis strains per year were received at the Reference Laboratory. The figures increased to 478 and 432 in 1994 and 1995, respectively. National rates were 3.41 and 3.04 notifications/100,000 inhabitants in 1994 and 1995 respectively. Northern regions were the most affected and 90% of observed cases during 1994 came from Arica and Antofagasta. At the present time, 20% of cases are observed in Santiago, located in the mid-portion of the country. The outbreak has mainly affected children and young adults (70% of cases). Strains have been isolated from stool cultures, suggesting gastrointestinal infections as the main clinical presentation. More than 98% of strains are susceptible to chloramphenicol, ampicillin, tetracycline, sulfa-trimetroprim, cefotaxime or ciprofloxacin.

The obtained data clearly indicate the existence of an epidemic outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis infections, with a geographic progression from North to South.