Læknablaðið - 15.03.1992, Qupperneq 10

84
LÆKNABLAÐIÐ
Byrjunareinkenni salmonellasýkingar eru oft
mjög bráð og erfitt að greina á milli þeirra og
annarra sjúkdóma.
Að lokum má draga þá ályktun að
salmonellasýkingar hér á landi árið 1988
voru að mestu innfluttar. S. enteritidis var
ekki innlent vandamál og hafði ekki fundist
í dýrum hér á landi (17). Þar sem aukningin í
nágrannalöndunum hefur bent til sýktra eggja
er mjög mikilvægt fyrir okkur að kanna vel
uppruna sýkinganna og grípa strax inn í með
aðgerðum ef þörf krefur.
SUMMARY
Human salmonella infections in Iceland. One
year experience in 1988.
In recent years there has been a significant
increase in the number of Salmonella infections
in Westem countries. Salmonella enteritidis has
been responsible for most of this increase in Britain
and in North America, while other species of
Salmonella have not increased. Most of the cases
associated with this species have been associated
with eggs and poultry. As an epidemiological
survey for the whole of Iceland had never been
conducted, we did not know where most of these
infections originate.
We conducted a retrospective survey that included
all persons with culture confirmed Salmonella
infections during the year 1988. All persons were
contacted by telephone and asked questions relating
to their infection. Hospital records of patients
admitted to hospital were also investigated.
There were 130 culture confirmed Salmonella
infections, and complete information could be
obtained from all but 5 (96%). Most of the
infections were acquired in Spain 59 (45.4%)
and in Iceland 24 (18.4%). The most prevalent
species was S. enteritidis 67 (52%), which usually
originated from Spain (67%) and was only once
considered to be acquired in Iceland (4%). The
species most commonly acquired in Iceland was
S. typhimurium 8 (33.3%). The following were
the major complications: cholecystitis 3; reactive
arthritis 2 and possibly salpingitis 1. Carriage
lasted on average 37 days (4-168 days). One
hundred and fifteen had diarrhoea (88%) and 36
(28%) had to be admitted to hospital. Sixty two
(48%) were unable to work for 1-210 days (median
21 days). The majority got infected in the period
July to September (52%), however the infections
acquired in Iceland did not appear to be seasonal.
The low proportion of infections acquired in
Iceland is interesting and the fact that only one
case of S. enteritidis was considered a local
infection is important. The majority of cases
were tourists retuming from holidays in warmer
climates. The source of the infections could
only be ascertained in one instance (5 cases).
Salmonella infections obviously still cause a
significant morbidity and should be taken seriously.
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