Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis

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ICD-10	A02.0
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ICD-9	003.0
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Salmonellosis is an infection with Salmonella bacteria. Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, vomiting, and abdominal cramps 6 to 72 hours after infection. In most cases, the illness usually lasts 3 to 7 days—most affected persons recover without treatment. However, in some persons the diarrhea may be so severe that the patient becomes dangerously dehydrated and must be taken to a hospital. At the hospital, the patients will receive intravenous fluids to treat their dehydration and medications may be given to provide symptomatic relief, like fever reduction. In severe cases, 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. Some people afflicted with Salmonellosis later experience reactive arthritis, which can have long-lasting, disabling effects.

The type of salmonella usually associated with infections in humans is called Non-Typhoidal Salmonella. It is usually contracted by ingesting raw or undercooked eggs, or from animals such as:

• Poultry and cattle, if the meat is prepared incorrectly or becomes infected with the bacteria somehow.
• Infected eggs and milk, as well as egg products, when not prepared, handled, or refrigerated correctly.
• Reptiles such as turtles, lizards, and snakes, as they can carry the bacteria on their skin.

Another, rarer form of salmonella is called Typhoidal Salmonella. It is only carried by humans and is usually contracted through direct contact with the fecal matter of an infected person. This kind of salmonella infection can lead to typhoid fever. It therefore mainly occurs in countries that do not have proper systems for handling human waste.

Etymology

Both Salmonellosis and the Salmonella type of microorganisms derive their names from a modern Latin coining after Daniel E. Salmon 1850–1914, an American Veterinary surgeon. He had help from Theobald Smith, and they found the bacterium in pigs.

Symptoms

The bacterium induces responses in the animal that it is infecting and this is probably what causes the symptoms rather than any direct toxin. They are usually gastrointestinal including nausea, vomiting, and bloody diarrhea with mucus. Headache, fatigue and rose spots are also possible. These symptoms can be severe especially in the old and very young. Symptoms last generally up to a week, and can appear 6 to 72 hours after bacterium ingestion.

Incidents of salmonellosis

In June 2006, the BBC reported that the Cadbury chocolate manufacturer withdrew a number of products because of possible contamination with salmonella. The problems had been traced to a leaking pipe at a Cadbury plant in Herefordshire in January 2006, though the announcement was not made until June.

In March 2006, The New York Times reported that the U.S. government said that 16.3% of all chickens were contaminated with salmonella. In the mid to late twentieth century, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis was a common contaminant of eggs. This is much less common now with the advent of hygiene measures in egg production and the vaccination of laying hens to prevent salmonella colonization. Many different salmonella serovars also cause severe diseases in animals other than human beings.

After bacterial infections, reactive arthritis (aka Reiters Syndrome) can develop. In sickle-cell anemia, osteomyelitis due to Salmonella infection is much more common than in the general population.

In February 2007, the U.S. FDA issued a warning to consumers not to eat certain jars of Peter Pan peanut butter or Great Value peanut butter due to risk of contamination with 'Salmonella Tennessee'. [1]

In March 2007, around 150 people were diagnosed with salmonella-poisoning after eating tainted food at a governor's reception in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. Over 1500 people attended the ball on March 1 and fell ill as a consequence of ingesting salmonella-tainted sandwiches.

External links

• CDC website, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, Disease Listing: Salmonellosis
• CFIA Website: Salmonellae

See also

• Typhoid fever
• List of foodborne illness outbreaks

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