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Cause:
Myriad serotypes in the bacterial genus Salmonella,
excluding S. Typhi (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 (Table 6).
2008:
846 cases were reported
(12.8 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
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To determine if there is
a source of infection of public health concern (e.g., a
food handler or commercially distributed food product)
and to stop transmission from such a source.
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When the source of infection appears to pose a risk to
only a few individuals (e.g., a reptile in the home), to
inform those individuals how they can reduce their risk
of exposure.
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To assess the risk of
the case transmitting infection to others, and to
prevent such transmission.
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To identify outbreaks
and other undiagnosed cases.
Legal Reporting Requirements
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Health care providers:
immediately notifiable to local health jurisdiction.
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Hospitals: immediately
notifiable to local health jurisdiction.
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Laboratories: notifiable
to local health jurisdiction within 2 work days;
specimen submission required.
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Local health jurisdiction:
notifiable to the Washington State Department
of Health (DOH) Communicable Disease Epidemiology
Section (CDES) within 7 days of case investigation
completion or summary information required within 21
days.
Last
update
November 2009 |
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