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37
During the year an outbreak of Salmonella Oranienburg occurred in a
hospital of 184 beds. The Medical Officer of Health was informed and it became
necessary to close the hospital. This action was reported to the Ministry of
Health. Screening of faecal samples from all patients and staff was carried out
involving a total of 590 persons. Patients were discharged home or to
convalescence as soon as possible if cleared, and transferred to an isolation
hospital if positive. A criterion for clearance was 6 negative stools, but before
the hospital was re-opened 6 more negatives were required from food handlers
and from nursing staff on the maternity ward.
It was apparent that there was need for improvement in the methods used
by the kitchen staff and intensive hygienic measures were instituted. Samples
of water, food and swabs from the working surfaces and equipment were taken
and sent to the laboratory for examination. All tests proved negative.
Originally the outbreak was dealt with as a food borne infection but it
later became apparent that there was also some spread by direct person to
person transmission.
The outbreak was considered to have come to an end by late July and the
hospital was then re-opened in stages, but before this happened the whole of the
premises and staff quarters were disinfected and lectures given to all staff.
Salmonella Oranienburg was isolated from 80 members of the staff and
patients and the following organisms were also identified during the screening,
Salmonella Seftenburg, Panama, Reading and Indiana.