An Epidemic ofShigella sonneiDysentery Arising in a General Hospital

Abstract

SHIGELLA epidemics occurring in hospitals are sufficiently uncommon to justify the reporting of such an episode. The present report deals with an epidemiologic investigation of an outbreak of Shigella sonnei dysentery primarily involving personnel in a general hospital.Description of the EpidemicBetween July 9 and 14, 1957, there was an explosive outbreak of gastroenteritis involving approximately 80 persons at the Jackson Memorial Hospital of Miami, Florida. The majority of persons affected were hospital employees (Table 1). Gastrointestinal symptoms developed in 78 persons in the hospital community during the week of July 8. Eleven were patients previously hospitalized for another . . .