Convalescent excretion of Salmonella enteritidis in infants

Objectives: 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 prlonged symptomless excretion after infection, particularly in infants aged less than 1 year. Infection control measures, including exclusion criteria, map need to be modified as an outbreak progresses.