Convalescent excretion of Salmonella enteritidis in infants.
OBJECTIVE
To review the excretion of Salmonella enteritidis PT4 in the faeces of infants involved in a point-source outbreak in a nursery, and to relate these findings to advice given by the Outbreak Control Team (OCT).


METHODS
Retrospective laboratory-based survey.


RESULTS
Infection with S. enteritidis PT4 was microbiologically confirmed in 33 primary cases and one secondary case. Of the faeces submitted 4 weeks from exposure, 96% remained positive. None of the infants was symptomatic by this time, and none received antimicrobial treatment. Two infants aged less than 1 year were still excreting 22 weeks after the onset of the outbreak.


CONCLUSIONS
As for other serotypes, S. enteritidis PT4 causes prolonged symptomless excretion after infection, particularly in infants aged less than 1 year. Infection control measures, including exclusion criteria, may need to be modified as an outbreak progresses.
Balfour
A E
AE
Department of Microbiology, Victoria Infirmary NHS Trust, Glasgow, Scotland, UK.
Lewis
R
R
Ahmed
S
S
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003289:Convalescence; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012480:Salmonella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D012477:Salmonella enteritidis / Q000302:isolation & purification*