title: Large scale use of ciprofloxacin in the control of a Salmonella outbreak in a hospital for the mentally handicapped.
abstract: An outbreak of salmonella food poisoning occurred in a hospital for the mentally handicapped in July 1990. Salmonella enteritidis phage type 4 was identified in 101 patients and eight staff. Standard infection control measures were instituted. Ciprofloxacin was given to all resident patients and to all affected staff. The outbreak was rapidly controlled. There were no new cases after ciprofloxacin was started and there were no clinical relapses. Microbiological relapsers were retreated with ciprofloxacin. A gradual return to normal activity was possible and within two months the hospital was functioning normally. No salmonellae have been identified in the hospital since that time, confirming that the organism was eradicated, rather than just temporarily suppressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, UK.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dyson
authors.forename: C D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Westmoreland
mesh_terms: D002939:Ciprofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000635:transmission; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D008607:Intellectual Disability; D008297:Male; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014852:Wales
chemical_list: D002939:Ciprofloxacin