Salmonella typhimurium. Transmission by fiberoptic upper gastrointestinal endoscopy
H. J. Beecham 3rd, M. L. Cohen and W. E. Parkin
During a four-month period, Salmonella typhimurium developed in seven
persons within five days of fiberoptic upper gastrointestinal (GI)
endoscopy. A retrospective cohort study confirmed the association between S
typhimurium infection and fiberoptic upper GI endoscopy. Salmonella
typhimurium was cultured from the endoscopic equipment and the accessory
suction equipment. The Salmonella isolated from the endoscopic and
accessory suction equipment was identical to that recovered from the seven
patients with salmonellosis by serotype, antimicrobial susceptibility
pattern, and bacteriophage lysis pattern. Salmonella transmission was
attributed to inadequate disinfection of the endoscope and accessory
equipment between procedures. The original source of the contamination was
not discovered.
