title: An outbreak of gastroenteritis due to Salmonella Typhimurium phage type 170 associated with consumption of a dessert containing raw egg.
abstract: Eggs are frequently implicated as a source of foodborne salmonellosis. In February 2009 an investigation was commenced following reports of gastrointestinal illness among diners at a Canberra restaurant. The investigation sought to confirm the existence of an outbreak, identify a source and implement public health measures to prevent more cases. Menus and booking lists were obtained from the restaurant and a case-control study was commenced. A suspected case was defined as a person who ate at the restaurant on 13 or 14 February 2009 and subsequently developed diarrhoea and/or vomiting. Twenty cases and 31 controls were enrolled in the study. Eating a tiramisu dessert containing raw egg had a highly statistically significant association with illness (crude odds ratio 130.50, 95% confidence interval 13.54-1605.28). Among the 20 cases, nine of 12 stool samples were positive for Salmonella Typhimurium phage type 170 (STm 170). No microbiological evidence of STm 170 was obtained from the restaurant or during the egg trace-back investigation. This report highlights the risk associated with consumption of foods containing raw or undercooked shell egg.
authors.affiliation: Communicable Disease Control, Health Protection Service, Australian Capital Territory Health, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reynolds
authors.forename: Cameron R M
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Moffatt
authors.forename: Amalie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dyda
authors.forename: Rebecca L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Hundy
authors.forename: Andrew L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kaye
authors.forename: Radomir
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krsteski
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rockliff
authors.forename: Riemke
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kampen
authors.forename: Paul M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: Eddie D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D020958:Australian Capital Territory / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004531:Eggs / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D005759:Gastroenteritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012147:Restaurants; D012478:Salmonella Food Poisoning / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012486:Salmonella typhimurium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult