(Infection; Salmonella Enterica; Food Poisoning)
by Shara Aaron, MS, RD
Salmonellosis is a type of food poisoning.
Certain bacteria cause this kind of food poisoning. They grow in a many places such as water, raw meat, seafood, and eggs. Infection comes from eating or drinking contaminated products. Once in the body, the germs go to the bowels where they grow and start to cause problems.
Some reptiles, such as turtles or iguanas, can also pass it to you.
Risk Factors TOP
Your risk is higher if you:
The doctor will ask about your symptoms, and health and travel history. They will ask you about any food you ate or any animals you touched. The doctor may think you have food poisoning from your answers and a physical exam. If needed, blood or stool tests will confirm a diagnosis.
The infection goes away on its own in 2-5 days. Other care may involve:
To lower your chances of food poisoning:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Food Safety—US Department of Health and Human Services
Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education
Public Health Agency of Canada
Koningstein M, Simonsen J, Helms M, Molbak K. The interaction between prior antimicrobial drug exposure and resistance in human Salmonella infections. J Antimicrob Chemother. 2010;65(8):1819-1825.
Salmonella. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/. Updated April 16, 2018. Accessed May 23, 2018.
Nontyphoidal Salmonella infections. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: https://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/infectious-diseases/gram-negative-bacilli/nontyphoidal-salmonella-infections. Updated April 2018. Accessed May 23, 2018.
Nontyphoidal salmonellosis. EBSCO DynaMed Plus website. Available at: http://www.dynamed... . Updated March 16, 2018. Accessed May 23, 2018.
Last reviewed May 2018 by David L. Horn, MD, FACP
Last Updated: 5/23/2018
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