Questions and Answers | Salmonella (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you get Salmonella? ›

Most people with Salmonella infection have diarrhea, fever, and stomach cramps. Symptoms usually begin six hours to six days after infection and last four to seven days. However, some people do not develop symptoms for several weeks after infection and others experience symptoms for several weeks.

How common is salmonella? Salmonella is one of the most common forms of food poisoning. Over a million people in the U.S. alone get salmonella every year and 26,500 are hospitalized.

CDC estimates Salmonella bacteria cause about 1.35 million infections, 26,500 hospitalizations, and 420 deaths in the United States every year.

Most people don't need to seek medical attention for salmonella infection because it clears up on its own within a few days. However, if the affected person is an infant, young child, older adult or someone with a weakened immune system, call a health care provider if illness: Lasts more than a few days.

Heat your meat

Poultry naturally contains Salmonella, which you can kill by cooking the meat to an internal temperature of 165°F or higher. Cook all raw ground beef, pork, lamb, and veal to an internal temperature of 160 °F – and don't rely on guesswork. Measure the temperature with a food thermometer to be sure.

People with salmonellosis should drink plenty of clear fluids (ex: water, clear juices, soups) to prevent dehydration caused by the diarrhea. Resting and eating easily digested foods (such as bananas, rice and crackers) will help recovery.

Scientists have described more than 2,500 Salmonella serotypes, but less than 100 cause most cases of salmonellosis in people. Both FDA and CDC consider all serotypes capable of infecting people. Freezing and drying, which typically prevent the growth of bacteria, do not kill Salmonella.

Because salmonella infection can cause dehydration, treatment focuses on replacing lost fluids and electrolytes — minerals that balance the amount of water in the body. If dehydration is severe, emergency room care or hospitalization may be needed so that fluids can be delivered directly into a vein (intravenous).

How is salmonellosis spread? The infection is spread by eating or drinking contaminated food or water or by contact with people or animals infected with Salmonella. Salmonella can be found in raw or undercooked meats and eggs, raw (unpasteurized) milk and cheese products, and produce.

These data indicate that heating perishable foods of the type studied to 150 F and holding every particle of food at this temperature for at least 12 min reduces 10 million or less salmonellae or staphylococci per gram to nondetectable levels.

How do animals get Salmonella? ›

How Does the Disease Spread? Salmonella is a highly contagious bacteria that spreads primarily when animals consume contaminated feed or water.

Salmonella produces both endotoxins and exotoxins. The endotoxin, the lipid portion (lipid A) of the outer membrane lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Salmonella, elicits a diversity of biological responses both in vivo and in vitro [24]. The exotoxins can be subdivided in two types: the cytotoxins and the enterotoxins.

Key points about salmonella infections

They generally cause diarrhea. Salmonella can also cause typhoid fever. It can spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms of a salmonella infection usually include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, chills, headache, nausea, or vomiting.

Key points about salmonella infections

It can spread to other parts of the body. Symptoms of a salmonella infection usually include diarrhea, fever, abdominal cramps, chills, headache, nausea, or vomiting. Treatment may not be needed unless dehydration happens or the infection doesn't get better.

Interesting Facts:

Most reptiles and amphibians carry Salmonella. Salmonella diseases are zoonotic, spreading from animals to humans, and also from human to human. Salmonella move through their host's intestines via flagella. There are approximately 2,500 different strains of Salmonella.

Period of Communicability or Infectious Period. The disease is communicable for as long as infected persons excrete Salmonella bacteria in their stool, but most likely while diarrhea exists. This can last from days to months, depending on the serotype, but rarely lasts more than one year.

In otherwise healthy people, symptoms should go away in 2 to 5 days, but they may last for 1 to 2 weeks. People who have been treated for Salmonella may continue to shed the bacteria in their stool for months to a year after the infection.

A user drops a liquified sample of food onto a paper test strip that will give an accurate result in less than an hour. Here's what you should know about at-home Salmonella testing, and how you can prevent foodborne illness in your kitchen. What Are the Risk Factors for Salmonella?