Salmonella is a bacteria that causes gastrointestinal illness with diarrhea, stomach cramps and fever. Salmonella species are categorized by serotypes. There are more than 2,500 serotypes of Salmonella. Salmonella can infect humans through inadequately processed foods, such as chicken or eggs; contaminated water, and contact with animals such as reptiles and amphibians.
Salmonella serotype Typhi
Serotype Typhi causes typhoid or enteric fever. This illness shows a slow progression, with fever, generalized aches, weakness and abdominal pain. It can also cause changes in mental status, and enlargement of the liver or spleen. The disease is caused when the salmonella Typhi bacteria spreads in the bloodstream, causing what is known as bacteremia. Most cases of typhoid fever occur in developing countries or in recent immigrants from those nations.
Salmonella serotype Enteritidis
This serotype is one of the most common causes of salmonella infection in the United States. It is transmitted by eating raw or undercooked eggs. These eggs get contaminated when the salmonella bacterium infects the ovaries of hens. From there, the bacteria get in the eggs before the shells are formed.
People start having symptoms within a day of exposure. The illness usually lasts less than a week, with diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. This is a self-limiting illness, and no treatment is necessary except for supportive care for dehydration.
Salmonella serotype Typhimurium
Typhimurium is responsible for outbreaks of salmonella in people consuming contaminated peanut butter or peanut butter-containing products. The symptoms are the same as other types of salmonella. People with immune deficiencies, the elderly and children are at increased risk for severe infection and spread of the bacteria into the bloodstream.
Salmonella serotype Newport
The serotype Newport is a multidrug resistant strain of salmonella. It can cause severe illness and death in chronically ill patients. There is growing concern about the ability of this serotype to cause infections in humans.
References
- Red Book: 2009 Report of the Committee on Infectious Diseases, American Academy of Pediatrics, Committee on Infectious Diseases, 2009
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
