



      Source: CDC PHIL


What is salmonellosis?

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by the Salmonella bacteria. Persons infected with Salmonella may develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after becoming infected. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient needs to be hospitalized. In these patients, the Salmonella infection may spread from the intestines to the blood stream and then to other body sites and can cause death unless the person is treated promptly with antibiotics. The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to have a severe illness.


How can Salmonella infections be diagnosed?

Many different kinds of illnesses can cause diarrhea, fever, or abdominal cramps. Determining that Salmonella is the cause of the illness depends on laboratory tests that identify Salmonella in the stool of an infected person. These tests are sometimes not performed unless the laboratory is instructed specifically to look for the organism. Once Salmonella has been identified, further testing can determine its specific type, and which antibiotics could be used to treat it.


How can Salmonella infections be treated?



How do people catch Salmonella?

Salmonella bacteria live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, including birds. Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. Contaminated foods usually look and smell normal. Contaminated foods are often of animal origin, such as beef, poultry, milk, or eggs, but all foods, including vegetables can become contaminated. Many raw foods of animal origin are frequently contaminated, but fortunately, thorough cooking kills Salmonella. Food may also become contaminated by the unwashed hands of an infected food handler, who forgot to wash his or her hands with soap after using the bathroom.



What can a person do to prevent this illness?


Cross-contamination of foods should be avoided. Uncooked meats should be kept separate from produce, cooked foods, and ready-to-eat foods. Hands, cutting boards, counters, knives, and other utensils should be washed thoroughly after handling uncooked foods. Hand should be washed before handling any food, and between handling different food items.


People should wash their hands after contact with animal feces. Since reptiles are particularly likely to have Salmonella, everyone should immediately wash their hands after handling reptiles. Reptiles (including turtles) are not appropriate pets for small children and should not be in the same house as an infant.


Ways to prevent Salmonella infection:

  • Do not eat or drink foods containing raw eggs, or raw unpasteurized milk. 
  • Wash hands with soap after handling reptiles or birds, or after contact with pet feces. 
  • Mother's milk is the safest food for young infants. Breast-feeding prevents salmonellosis and many other health problems.
  • Persons with diarrheal illness should not attend work if they are a food handler, childcare worker, or healthcare worker with direct patient contact.
  • Children with diarrheal illness should be excluded from childcare.
  • Persons who test positive for Salmonella and who work as a food handler, childcare worker, or healthcare worker are required to submit two negative stool cultures at least 24 hours apart before returning to work.