Abstract
The authors described an outbreak of meningitis caused by Salmonella grumpensis in 24 children aged 5 days to 3months (70% with less than 30 days) of which 22 died. The children developed symptoms of meningitis at home, after being discharged as apparently well from a maternity hospital in which they-had been born, where infection persisted at least from May 1961 to October 1962. All of them were interned in other hospitals. The maternity hospital was unaware of it due to the fact that newborns stayed in it only 3 to 4 days. The sequence of events caused by a very uncommon type of salmonella called the attention of the Typing Salmonella Center of the State Health Laboratory. If it were not for thir fact, the outbreak would probably go without coming to the attention of the State Health Department. Salmonella grumpensis became established in the obstetrical unit and was recovered in two instances from dust in the wards but not from the hospital staff. Two factors contributed to the spread of the infection: bad nursing and overcrowed nurseries. Closing the maternity during 18 days and desinfecting with formoldehyde was the only way to prevent the continuation of the outbreak.
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