NATIONAL OUTBREAK OF SALMONELLA SENFTENBERG ASSOCIATED WITH INFANT FOOD

Eight cases of Salmonella senftenberg infection in infants were identi fied in the first half of 1995 in England, five were indistinguishable S. senftenberg strains. A case-control study showed an association be tween illness and consumption of one brand of baby cereal (P = 0.03). The cereal manufacturer reported isolating S. senftenberg in June 1994 from an undistributed cereal batch. Outbreak strains and the cereal s train were all plasmid-free in contrast to other human isolates of S. senftenberg in the same period. Changes in the production process were implemented to prevent further contamination. Surveillance centres sh ould strengthen the detection and investigation of outbreaks of gastro intestinal infection in susceptible groups, especially young children. In this outbreak, the study of only five cases led to identification of the vehicle of infection. Even when few cases are reported, epidemi ological investigation in conjunction with molecular typing may lead t o public health action which prevents continuing or future outbreaks.