SHOES AND INFANT SALMONELLOSIS

Studies of the epidemiology of infant salmonellosis on Guam suggest that Salmonella infections in this age group may frequently be due to exposure to environmental contamination in the home rather than food poisoning as is frequently the case for older age groups. A survey for the presence of Salmonella contamination on the soles of shoes conducted in a variety of settings found four of 58 (6.9%) samples to be positive, demonstrating that Salmonella bacteria can be transported into homes on footwear. A procedure using ''elephant'' swabs (moistened gauze sponges wrapped around tongue depressor blades) to collect specimens is described.