CONTAMINATION OF HANDS AND WORK SURFACES WITH SALMONELLA - ENTERITIDIS PT4 DURING THE PREPARATION OF EGG DISHES

Salmonella enteritidis PT4 was recovered from fingers following the br eaking of intact shell eggs artificially contaminated in the contents with the bacterium. Kitchen utensils used to mix egg dishes were salmo nella-positive, sometimes after washing. Following the preparation of batter or the mixing of eggs, S. enteritidis was recovered from work s urfaces over 40 cm from the mixing bowl. The bacterium survived well i n thin, dry films of either batter or egg and, from an initial level o f one cell per cm(2), could be recovered from formica work surfaces 24 h after contamination.