Salmonella – Salmonellosis 

Human Salmonellosis infection is distributed world-wide problem. Salmonellosis infection caused by a bacteria called Salmonella.

Salmonella infection or salmonellosis is a common bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract of man and animals. Salmonella bacteria typically live in animal and human intestines and bacteria are shed through feces. Humans become infected most frequently through ingesting contaminated water or food.

People with salmonella infection symptoms develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps within 6 to 72 hours.

Epidemiological Triad

Agent– the causative agent of salmonella bacteria is called salmonella. The main causative organisms which infect only man are salmonella typhi, salmonella paratyphi a and c.

The reservoir of salmonella is gastrointestinal tract of man; it is also present in animal.

Humans is generally contracted salmonellosis through the consumption of contaminated food of animal origin such as meat, poultry and egg products; primary source of salmonellosis.

Host– it can occur among any age group. Children, elderly, and people with a weakened immune system are high at risk.

Environment – exposed to contaminated food, animal, man or environment. Salmonella is present in environment, can survive in soil for months. People get infected coming in contact with dust, water, manure, sludge, vegetables, and rodents.

Salmonellosis source of infection

Salmonella infection is usually caused by –

1.Consuming raw or undercooked meat, poultry, eggs or egg products

2. Drinking and eating unpasteurized milk and other dairy products

3. Eating raw fruits or vegetables

4. Consuming processed foods

5. Poor handwashing

6. Handling pets

Salmonella Risk Factors

1. Travelling – poor environment sanitation.

2. Taking certain drugs – steroids can weaken immune system.

3. Prolonged use of antibiotics – may kill many “good” bacteria in the stomach and intestine, making it harder to fight off salmonella infection.

3. Inflammatory bowel disease – such as diseases ulcerative colitis damage the intestine lining, making it easier to attach for salmonella and shed there.

4. Pets – salmonella can be transmitted by animals to people.

5. Use of antacids – lower the stomach’s acid level, which makes it better for salmonella to survive.

Mode of transmission

Both people and animals can carry salmonella in their intestines and their feces. The salmonella bacteria often spread through –

1. Consuming contaminated foods ad water

2. Faecal-oral-route

3. Direct animal contact

4. Infected by eating foods of drinking water, contaminated with feces from an infected animal

Incubation period

The incubation period of salmonellosis is usually 6 to 72 hours.

Clinical Manifestation

The onset of salmonella infection, symptoms usually occurs within 6–72 hours after ingestion of salmonella.

Most of the signs and symptoms of a salmonella infection are related to stomach as stomach flu (gastroenteritis) usually characterized by acute onset of fever, abdominal cramps and pain, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting.

Salmonellosis symptoms include –

1. Nausea

2. Vomiting

3. Abdominal cramps

4. Diarrhea

5. Low grade fever, cold and chills

6. Blood in the stool (hematochezia) 

7. Headache

8. Dehydration

Lab Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by-

1. Taking history of ingestion of food source

2. Clinical manifestations

3. Laboratory investigation of a specimen (sample) such as blood culture and stool culture, widal test, typhidot, tubex

Treatment

1. Treatment with electrolyte replacement – to provide electrolytes, such as sodium, potassium and chloride ions, that lost through vomiting, diarrhoea and rehydration.

2. Health risk groups such as infants, elderly, and immunocompromised people may need to antimicrobial therapy. Such as ciprofloxacin, azithromycin. If have a high fever, to give acetaminophen.

3. If have diarrhea, drink a lot of water and other fluids. Drink a rehydration liquid-like pedialyte oral drink,  used to replace fluids and minerals (such as sodium, potassium) lost due to diarrhea and vomiting. If diarrhea is severe, take a medication; loperamide.

Prevention and Control

Basic food and water hygiene practices, such as “cook thoroughly”, recommended as a preventive measure against salmonellosis.

1. Early diagnosis and treatment

2. Prevention of food and water contamination

3. Immunization

4. Pasteurization of milk

5. Sanitary environment

6. Proper disposable of liquid and solid waste

5. Hand washing with soap

Who is at Most Risk for salmonella?

1. Children under age 5 years old are get a salmonella infection. Infants who are not breast fed, having more risk of a salmonella infection.  

2. Adults aged 65 and older or people with a weakened immune system are more chance to get infection.

Salmonella and salmonellosis , Salmonella typhi 

Salmonella are a group of bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness (common bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract) and fever called salmonellosis.

Typhoid fever is caused by bacteria called Salmonella typhi. Typhoid fever also known as Enteric fever; faeco-orally transmitted bacterial disease.

Salmonellosis – Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is salmonellosis?

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by salmonella bacteria. Most persons infected with salmonella develop symptom bacteria fever, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, vomiting  6 to 72 hours after infection.

2. What are the symptoms of salmonellosis?

People with salmonellosis, most experience diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 6 to 72 hours after consuming the contaminated food and water with animal feces.  Symptoms are fever and chills, headache, nausea, anorexia and vomiting.

Infants and young children, pregnant women, older adults, immunosuppressant people who are (such as; hiv/aids, diabetes cancer, kidney disease) are higher risk of salmonellosis infection.

3. How do people get salmonellosis?

Bactria salmonella lives in the intestinal tract of humans and other animals, including birds. Salmonella is usually transmitted to humans by ingesting foods, water contaminated with animal feces.

 4. What can prevent salmonellosis?

1. Not to eat raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat

2. Not to consume raw or unpasteurized milk or other dairy products

3. Thoroughly washed fruits and vegetables before consuming

4. Washed hands with soap after contact with animal feces

5. Washed had regularly before eating

5. What is the treatment for salmonellosis?

The treatment focuses on replacing fluids and electrolytes. In cases of severity may require delivered fluids directly into a vein (intravenous).

Anti-diarrheals –  medications such as loperamide can help relieve cramping and treat diarrhoea.

Antibiotics –  if suspects, salmonella bacteria entered into bloodstream, antibiotics treatment to kill the bacterial infection.

Antibiotic such as fluoroquinolones; ciprofloxacin (for adults) and azithromycin (for children) used to treat salmonella infection.