PATHOGENESIS OF HUMAN SALMONELLOSIS

The Public Health Laboraries in Germany have not only been isolating S almonella species in general in increasing numbers during the last thr ee years but observe especially a steep increase in the isolation rate for S. enteritidis. Epidemiological analyses indicate the involvement of chicken and eggs as frequent sources of the infectious agents. Alt hough the clinical course of the disease in most cases is characterize d by diarrhoea only, enteric fever and bacteriemia do occur rather oft en. The latter applies expecially to immunocompromized patients, to in fants and to the elderly. The number of fatal cases is probably grossl y underestimated because bacteriological tests are often not performed in old patients. The new epidemiological situation as well as the sev ere course of the disease in many cases lead physicians to strictly cl aim for food free of S. enteritidis.