Salmonella bacteria live in
the intestines
of people, animals and birds. Most people are infected with salmonella by eating foods that have been contaminated by feces.
How does salmonella spread in the body?
Salmonella is spread
by the fecal-oral route
and can be transmitted by • food and water, • by direct animal contact, and • rarely from person-to-person. An estimated 94% of salmonellosis is transmitted by food. Humans usually become infected by eating foods contaminated with feces from an infected animal.
Where does salmonella naturally live?
Salmonella is naturally in
the intestines
of many different animals.
How do you know if salmonella is in your bloodstream?
The bacteria usually infect the digestive tract but can travel through the bloodstream and infect other parts of the body. People have nausea and crampy abdominal pain, followed by watery diarrhea, fever, and vomiting.
Identifying the bacteria in a sample, usually of stool
, confirms the diagnosis.
Can salmonella stay in your system for years?
People who have been treated for salmonella may continue to shed the bacteria in their stool for
months to a year after the infection
. Food handlers who carry salmonella in their body can pass the infection to the people who eat the food they have handled.
What kills salmonella in the body?
Antibiotics
. If your doctor suspects that salmonella bacteria have entered your bloodstream, or if you have a severe case or a compromised immune system, he or she may prescribe antibiotics to kill the bacteria. Antibiotics are not of benefit in uncomplicated cases.
How serious is salmonella?
Salmonella
illness can be serious
.
They include diarrhea that can be bloody, fever, and stomach cramps. Most people recover within 4 to 7 days without antibiotic treatment. But some people with severe diarrhea may need to be hospitalized or take antibiotics.
What is the main cause of Salmonella?
Salmonella infection is caused by a group of
salmonella bacteria
called Salmonella. The bacteria are passed from feces of people or animals to other people or animals. Contaminated foods are often animal in origin. They include beef, poultry, seafood, milk, or eggs.
What is the most common cause of Salmonella?
Most people are infected with salmonella by
eating foods that have been contaminated by feces
. Commonly infected foods include: Raw meat, poultry and seafood.
How can Salmonella be prevented?
- Keep raw meat and poultry separate from produce and other foods when shopping for and storing groceries.
- Wash hands, cutting boards, countertops, cutlery, and utensils after handling uncooked poultry.
- Wash raw fruits and vegetables before eating.
- Cross-Contamination.
What happens if Salmonella is left untreated?
Although most people recover from a Salmonella infection without treatment, it's
possible to become very ill or even die from it
. The CDC estimates that Salmonella infection causes 23,000 hospitalizations and 450 deaths in the United States each year.
Is there a home test for Salmonella?
The
RapidChek
®
SELECT
TM
Salmonella Enteriditis test
is one of the first FDA awarded Test Method Equivalent and AOAC approved commercially available, rapid, sero-specific assay. It uses the same proprietary media system as the RapidChek
®
SELECT
TM
Salmonella test kit.
Can Salmonella go away without antibiotics?
Most people recover from Salmonella infection
within four to seven days without antibiotics
. People who are sick with a Salmonella infection should drink extra fluids as long as diarrhea lasts.
Can salmonella weaken your immune system?
Scientists have discovered that
Salmonella causes disease by preventing deployment of the immune system's
'SAS'. When harmful bacteria invade our body, the immune system releases an elite force of cells to destroy the invader.
Can Salmonella cause ongoing problems?
Salmonella not only causes acute infections, but can also
cause patients to become chronic “asymptomatic” carriers
. Salmonella has been verified as a pathogenic factor that contributes to chronic inflammation and carcinogenesis.
Can Salmonella cause long term problems?
The condition frequently resolves within several months, but it
can become chronic, even permanent
. Reiter's Syndrome, which includes, and is sometimes referred to as reactive arthritis, is an uncommon, but debilitating, possible result of a Salmonella infection.
