Inapparent Salmonella Infections in Hospitals

The prevention and control of intramural outbreaks of enteric infection in hospitals is a source of considerable concern. Outbreaks have occurred with alarming frequency even in the best institutions. The general pattern appears to be the same in all cases. An infected food handler or a person with inapparent infection among the patients or nursing personnel is usually the source. The types of enteric infection most frequently encountered are those due to Shigella (bacillary dysentery) or Salmonella strains. 1 A few representative examples are an outbreak due to Bacterium flexneri type 6 in a large, modern hospital in New York City 2 ; a meningitic type of Salmonella havana in Havana, Cuba, 3 and Salmonella infections transmitted from mother to newborn child in hospitals in New York City, 4 New Orleans 5 and Australia. 6 Six cases of Salmonella infection were detected within a short period in the course of routine