Health Library

Salmonellosis

Definition

Salmonellosis is an infection with bacteria called salmonella. Salmonella lives in a variety of places such as water, raw meat, seafood, certain pets, and eggs.

Causes

Salmonellosis is caused by ingestion of a strain of bacteria called salmonella. After the bacteria are ingested, within 6-48 hours they will pass through the stomach to the intestine where inflammation occurs and spreads.

Stomach and Intestines
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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 such as those who take medication 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 the bacteria

Treatment

Over-the-counter medications 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— Oral or IV 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 where blood infection may occur. 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 utensils thoroughly after using them on raw meats, fish, or poultry.
  • Do not use the same cutting boards for raw meats and raw vegetables.
  • Do not drink unpasteurized milk.
  • Drink bottled or purified water when traveling.
  • Cook all foods to appropriate temperatures.
  • Place foods in the refrigerator promptly.
  • Wash hands after handling reptiles.
  • Certain medications, like those to reduce stomach acid, may increase your risk for salmonellosis. Talk to your doctor about this risk.

Resources

Partnership for Food Safety Education
http://www.fightbac.org
US Food and Drug Administration
http://www.fda.gov

Canadian Resources

Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education
http://www.canfightbac.org
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, et al. The interaction between prior antimicrobial drug exposure and resistance in human Salmonella infections. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2010;65(8):1819-1825.
Salmonellosis. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/. Updated June 27, 2013. Accessed August 15, 2013.