by Aaron S
(Infection; Salmonella Enterica; Food Poisoning)
Definition
Salmonellosis is an infection with the bacteria
salmonella
. It
is a rod-shaped bacteria that can live in a variety of conditions, including in water, soil, raw meats, raw poultry, eggs, animal feces, insects, and raw seafood.
This condition can be serious in weakened populations, including the elderly and infants. In those cases, it should be treated by a doctor. Rarely, more serious complications can occur, such as
endocarditis
, bacteremia,
and
osteomyelitis
,.
Causes
Salmonellosis is caused by ingestion of a strain of the bacteria,
Salmonella
. After the bacteria is ingested, within 6-48 hours
Salmonella
will pass through the stomach to the intestine where inflammation occurs and spreads. The main types of
Salmonella
include:
- S. enteritidis
- S. typhimurium
- S. typhi
Risk Factors
Factors that increase your risk of getting salmonellosis include:
- Eating raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs, fish, or seafood
- Eating unpasteurized dairy products
- Eating other contaminated foods
- Drinking contaminated water
- Handling reptiles, especially turtles
-
Having a compromised immune system, such as in:
- Elderly
persons
- Infants
-
People with
HIV/AIDS
- People with low stomach acidity (eg, those who take medicine that reduces stomach acid)
Symptoms
If you have any of these symptoms, do not assume it is due to salmonellosis. These symptoms may be caused by other, less serious health conditions.
- Nausea
- Diarrhea
- Abdominal cramps
- Fever
- Vomiting
- Headaches
Diagnosis
Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history. A physical exam will be done. Your doctor may
test your stool or blood to confirm presence of
Salmonella
bacteria
Treatment
Over-the-counter medicines or oral rehydration solutions may be used to treat the symptoms of salmonellosis. The symptoms will usually improve on their own within 2-5 days. If symptoms are severe, talk with your doctor about the best treatment plan for you. Treatment options include the following:
- Rehydration therapy—With diarrhea and vomiting, oral or IV (given through a vein) fluid replacement is needed. Electrolytes may also be added to the solution.
- Acetaminophen
or
ibuprofen
—Over-the-counter pain relievers may be used to reduce fever or treat headaches and other pain.
- Antibiotics—These are required in severe cases. Antibiotic use in non-severe cases does not improve a person's outcome. It may cause the disease to last longer.
Prevention
To help reduce your chance of getting salmonellosis, take the following steps:
-
Frequently
wash hands
and surfaces.
- Wash hands and cutting boards with hot soapy water before and after handling raw foods.
- Wash hands and utensils thoroughly between handling raw meats, fish, or poultry.
- Do not use the same cutting boards for raw meats and raw vegetables.
- Cook all foods to appropriate temperatures.
- Place foods in the refrigerator promptly.
- Wash hands after handling reptiles.
- Certain medicines, like those to reduce stomach acid, may increase your risk for salmonellosis. Talk to your doctor about this risk.
RESOURCES
Fight BAC!
Partnership for Food Safety Education
http://www.fightbac.org/
FoodSafety.gov
http://www.foodsafety.gov/
CANADIAN RESOURCES
Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education
http://www.canfightbac.org/cpcfse/en/about/
Public Health Agency of Canada
http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca
References
Benenson A.
Salmonellosis
. Control of Communicable Diseases Manual.
American Public Health Association
. 1996: 410-414.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Use of a self-assessment
questionnaire for food safety education in the home kitchen—Los Angeles
County, California, 2006-2008.
MMWR.
2010;59(34):1098-101.
Edwards BH. Salmonella and shigella species.
Clin Lab Med
. 1999; 19(3):469-487.
Heymann D. Salmonellosis. In: American Public Health Association.
Control of Communicable Diseases Manual.
2004;469-473.
Koningstein M, Simonsen J, Helms M, Molbak K. The interaction between prior
antimicrobial drug exposure and resistance in human Salmonella infections.
J
Antimicrob Chemother.
2010;65(8):1819-1825.
Pegues DA, Ohl ME, Miller SI. Salmonella species, including Salmonella typhi.
Principles and Practices of Infectious Diseases
. 6th ed. 2005;2:2636-2654.
Salmonellosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at:
http://www.cdc.gov/nczved/divisions/dfbmd/diseases/salmonellosis/
. Updated November 16, 2009. Accessed January 7, 2013.