Outbreaks of alimentary infections of bacterial origin (dg 002--typhoid or paratyphoid fever; dg 003--infections due to other Salmonella species; dg 004--bacillary dysentery; dg 005--alimentary intoxications; dg 008--intestinal infections due to other bacteria; dg 009--intestinal infections of unknown etiology) which had been reported in the Czech socialist republic from 1979 to 1982 are overviewed and analyzed. The outbreaks of alimentary infections were analyzed by the number of epidemic episodes reported annually, by the number of cases involved, by the geographical and seasonal distribution pattern, by the place of onset, and by the mode of spread of infectious agents. Hospital-related salmonelloses were further analyzed by the serotype of Salmonellae responsible for these nosocomial infections. Outbreaks of water-borne alimentary infections were analyzed by the type of contaminated water source. Changes and trends in the epidemiology of alimentary bacterial infections encountered between 1979 and 1982 are discussed in detail. This study confirms that a systematic analysis of these outbreaks should constitute an integral part of the alimentary infections surveillance program for it may help assess the risk of population exposure to the varied causes of these infections.