|
Cause:
Myriad serotypes in the bacterial genus Salmonella,
excluding S. Typhi (see Typhoid).
Illness and treatment:
Typical symptoms
are fever, headache, diarrhea, nausea and abdominal pain,
with or without vomiting. Most persons recover without
treatment. Occasionally bacteria enter the bloodstream and
infect internal organs. Treatment for severe cases is with
antibiotics.
Sources:
Healthy animals, especially
reptiles, chickens, cattle, dogs and cats, can carry
Salmonella chronically and be a direct source for human
infection. Most human cases result from contaminated food.
Common exposures include contaminated eggs, unpasteurized
milk, poultry and produce. Person-to-person
transmission can occur.
Additional risks:
Illness including serious dehydration may be severe in the
very young, the elderly, or those with chronic diseases.
Incidence is highest in infants and young children.
Prevention:
Use good food handling and
personal hygiene practices, including thorough handwashing
after contact with animals. Prevent contact between young
children or persons with weakened immune systems and
reptiles, farm animals, or birds.
Recent Washington trends:
Salmonellosis is
the second most common notifiable enteric infection with
around 600 to 850 cases reported per year. Infections occur
all year with some increase during the spring and summer
months. Many serotypes are reported.
2010:
780 cases were reported (11.6 cases/100,000 population) with three deaths.
The infection was diagnosed most frequently in infants under one year and
children 1 to 4 years of age.
Purpose of Reporting and Surveillance
-
To identify outbreaks and potential sources of ongoing transmission
-
To prevent further transmission from such sources
-
To educate people about how to reduce their risk of infection
Legal Reporting Requirements
-
Health care providers:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours
-
Health care facilities:
notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours
-
Laboratories:
Salmonella species notifiable to local health jurisdiction within 24 hours;
specimen submission required – culture (2 business days)
-
Local health jurisdiction:
notifiable to the Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
Communicable Disease Epidemiology (CDE) within 7 days
of case investigation completion or summary information required
within 21 days
Last update
December 2011 |
|
