An outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis phage type 5a infection in a residential home for elderly people.
The first outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis phage type (PT) 5a infection to be reported occurred after a party in a residential home for elderly people in May 1995. The party was attended attended by 96 residents, staff and guests. S. enteritidis PT5a was isolated from 14 of the 25 clinical cases identified after the party and S. enteritidis PT4 from another clinical case. Two elderly residents with S. enteritidis PT5a infection died. Infection with S. enteritidis PT5a was associated with consumption of prawn in mayonnaise vol-au-vents, sausage rolls, corned beef sandwiches, and sausages. The investigation of this outbreak illustrated the difficulty that elderly people may have in the completion of questionnaires. It also highlighted areas for intervention; such as reminders about basic hygiene precautions to prevent secondary spread and the importance of coordinated reinforcement in the workplace of formal food hygiene training for cooks. The Food Safety Regulations 1995 came into force soon after this outbreak: their implementation would probably have prevented it.
Enfield and Haringey Health Authority, London.
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Hansell
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Sufi
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McCallum
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005522:Food Services; D006707:Homes for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000382:microbiology*; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000145:classification