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Two cases formed part of an outbreak in a house in
Caterham in which a number of persons suffered acutely
following consumption of a meat mould and chocolate souffle.
Most of the cases, 3 of which were admitted to hospital, had
S. typhi murium infections. In spite of a very full investigation
the exact source of the infection was not found.
The sixth case, treated at home, also was infected by
S. typhi murium, and reheated meat was suspected, but not
proved to be the source.
The above notes illustrate the difficulty in finding the source
of these infections, particularly, of course, in those cases in which
notfication is delayed, or specimens of vomit, faeces, and the
suspected foods are not retained or submitted for early examination.
The presence of S. typhi murium in each of the above
cases should not be regarded as indicating that this is the only
or commonest cause of these infections. Its presence will clinch
the diagnosis, but other cases showing no definite organism
probably occur from time to time without notification, unless
many persons are involved.
It is now becoming widely recognised that food infections
are preventable, but time must inevitably elapse before a complete
change in our national habits occurs. Meanwhile it is
hoped these notes will continue to record an absence of spectacular
outbreaks of these infections locally.