RAW EGG INGESTION AND SALMONELLOSIS IN BODY-BUILDERS

Four patients with Salmonella enteritidis infection are reported. All were body builders who regularly, consumed substantial quantities of r aw eggs. They presented with a severe febrile illness and diarrhoea - presumably reflecting a large bacterial inoculum. Advice regarding the potential hazards of raw egg ingestion has been repeatedly issued by the Department of Health - but this report highlights the fact that th is practice continues in spite of this. The epidemiology of S. enterit idis infection in relation to raw egg ingestion is discussed.