[Outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis food poisoning. Potential protective effect of alcoholic beverages].
BACKGROUND
On may 1994, a foodborne outbreak took place in Almazora (Castellón, Spain) after a meal with 116 persons. A sanitary study was made to find out the causes and control the outbreak.


METHODS
Inspection of the setting and a case-control study were carried out. Several foods and faecal specimens of 23 patients were investigated. We also study the effect of alcohol on the occurrence of the outbreak.


RESULTS
A hundred people was interviewed (86%), 58 ill persons. Salmonella enteritidis was isolated from faeces and statistically implicated food (odds ratio = 75, IC 95 = 15.6-361), a sandwich with tuna, boiled eggs and vegetables. Among adults, epidemiological analysis showed a protective effect of alcohol, adjusted for age, sex and consumption of the implicated food (p = 0.007).


CONCLUSIONS
In the study of foddborne outbreaks by Salmonella enteritidis simultaneous consumption of alcoholic drinks and foods should be taken into account to explain some exposed non-cases.
Bellido Blasco
J B
JB
Sección de Epidemiologia, Dirección Territorial de Sanidad, Castellón.
González Morán
F
F
Arnedo Pena
A
A
Galiano Arlandis
J V
JV
Safont Adsuara
L
L
Herrero Carot
C
C
Criado Juárez
J
J
Mesanza del Notario
I
I
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013030:Spain
Brote de infección alimentaria por Salmonella enteritidis. Possible efecto protector de las bebidas alcohólicas.