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 notifi cation 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 fl uid 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 qualifi ed 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.