摘要：In March 2001, the Communicable DiseasesControl Branch and local government investigatedan outbreak of gastroenteritis in an aged-carefacility in rural South Australia. Initial reportsindicated 12 residents and 1 staff member hadexperienced gastrointestinal illness; 3 residentshad been hospitalised. An epidemiological andenvironmental investigation sought details ofillness, food consumption, food purchasingpractices and social activities for the 3 day periodprior to the onset of illness in the first case. In total,18 (16 residents, 2 nursing staff) were ultimatelylinked to this outbreak (Figure). The predominantsymptoms were diarrhoea in 18 cases (100%) andvomiting in 10 cases (55.5%). Of the 15 cases forwhom the time of onset was available, the medianincubation period was 45.5 hours (range: 12 to 94hours). Thirteen stool specimens provided byresidents and staff yielded SalmonellaTyphimurium phage type 135. One secondary casein a health care worker was identified. This case isbelieved to have acquired the infection by person-to-person transmission. There were no reports ofgastrointestinal illness in kitchen food handlers
