Salmonella: CDC-OC
Article title: Salmonella: CDC-OC
Conditions: Salmonella
Source: CDC-OC
Salmonella
July 16, 1999
Contact: Division of Media Relations
404-639-3286
- Salmonella is actually a group of bacteria that can cause
diarrheal illness in people. Salmonella has been known to cause
illness in people for over 100 years.
- Every year, approximately 800,000 to 4 million cases of
Salmonella result in 500 deaths in the United States. Children
are the most likely to get Salmonella. Young children, the
elderly, and the immunocompromised are the most likely to have severe
infections.
- Symptoms of Salmonella include diarrhea, fever, and
abdominal cramps that develop 12 to 72 hours after infection. The
illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without
treatment.
- If the patient becomes severely dehydrated or the infection spreads
from the intestines. Persons with severe diarrhea may require
rehydration, often with intravenous fluids. Antibiotics are not usually
necessary unless the infection spreads from the intestines.
- Salmonella passes from the feces of people or animals, to
other people or other animals. There are many different kinds of
Salmonella bacteria. Salmonella serotype Typhimurium
and Salmonella serotype Enteritidis are the most common in the
United States.
- 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 may become contaminated. Food may also
become contaminated by the unwashed hands of an infected person handling
such food.
- Salmonella may also be found in the feces of some pets.
Reptiles are particularly likely to harbor the bacteria.
- Some Salmonella bacteria have become resistant to
antibiotics, largely as a result of the use of antibiotics to promote
the growth of feed animals.
- There is no vaccine to prevent Salmonella. Therefore, to
prevent infection
- Do not eat raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, or meat. Raw eggs may
be unrecognized in some foods such as homemade hollandaise sauce,
caesar and other salad dressings, tiramisu, homemade ice cream,
homemade mayonnaise, cookie dough, and frostings.
- Poultry and meat, including hamburgers, should be well-cooked, not
pink in the middle. Persons also should not consume raw or
unpasteurized milk or other dairy products. Produce should be
thoroughly washed before consuming.
- Cross-contamination of foods should be avoided. Uncooked meats
should be keep 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.
- Persons infected with Salmonella should not prepare food
or pour water for others until they have been shown to no longer be
carrying the Salmonella bacterium.
- Wash your 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.
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