[Clinical and epidemiological description of severe outbreak of foodborne infection by Salmonella Enteritidis]. / Descripción clínica y epidemiológica de un grave brote de salmonelosis transmitida por alimentos.

BACKGROUND: Foodborne diseases have increased considerably. AIM: To report a foodborne outbreak, remarking the importance of early notification to activate the epidemiological surveillance system. RESULTS: During February 2011 we observed a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak. 31.6% of the cases were seen in the same Emergency Care Unit where all required intravenous fluid rehydration, and 41.7% were hospitalized because of severe dehydration. In the Emergency Room 45.5% of cases required a second visit to be diagnosed correctly. DISCUSSION: Physicians under report the cases of this disease, delaying the activation of the epidemiological surveillance system. CONCLUSIONS: Besides providing good treatment to patients, physicians need to be qualified to recognize foodborne diseases and communicate early the suspicion of an outbreak to the epidemiological surveillance system in order to prevent new cases of disease in the community.

Descripción clínica y epidemiológica de un grave brote de salmonelosis transmitida por alimentos / Clinical and epidemiological description of severe outbreak of foodborne infection by Salmonella Enteritidis

Background: Foodborne diseases have increased considerably. Aim: To report a foodborne outbreak, remarking the importance of early notification to activate the epidemiological surveillance system. Results: During February 2011 we observed a Salmonella Enteritidis outbreak. 31.6% of the cases were seen in the same Emergency Care Unit where all required intravenous fluid rehydration, and 41.7% were hospitalized because of severe dehydration. In the Emergency Room 45.5% of cases required a second visit to be diagnosed correctly. Discussion: Physicians under report the cases of this disease, delaying the activation of the epidemiological surveillance system. Conclusions: Besides providing good treatment to patients, physicians need to be qualified to recognize foodborne diseases and communicate early the suspicion of an outbreak to the epidemiological surveillance system in order to prevent new cases of disease in the community.

Introducción: Las enfermedades transmitidas por alimentos (ETA) han aumentado considerablemente. Objetivo: Reportar un grave brote de ETA destacando la importancia de la notificación precoz para la activación del sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica. Resultados: Durante febrero de 2011 se observó un brote de Salmonella Enteritidis. Un 31,6% de los casos fueron atendidos en un mismo servicio de urgencia, donde todos requirieron la administración de fluidos endovenosos y 41,7% fueron hospitalizados por deshidratación grave. El 45,5% de los casos necesitó de una segunda consulta para ser diagnosticados correctamente. Discusión: La identificación de pacientes integrantes de un brote de ETA es difícil en los servicios de urgencia y los médicos sub-reportan los casos, retrasando al sistema de vigilancia epidemiológica. Conclusiones: Junto con brindar un adecuado tratamiento, los médicos deben estar capacitados para reconocer las ETA y comunicar tempranamente la sospecha de un brote para prevenir nuevos casos en la comunidad.