SCI/162 Principles of Health and Wellness
April 20, 2012
Write a 125- to 150-word response to each of the following questions:
• What is the infectious agent (pathogen) that causes this infectious disease? For example, the name of the bacteria, virus, or parasite.
Salmonella is a type of food poisoning caused by eating foods that are contaminated with Salmonella. Salmonellosis is caused by the Salmonella bacterium. There are a few different types of this bacterium, but the two different types most commonly found in the US are Salmonella serotype Typhimurium and Salmonella serotype Enteritidis. Young children, the elderly, and other people with compromised immune systems are the most likely candidates for having severe reactions to the salmonella bacterium. The most common way of contracting this bacterium is by ingesting foods that are contaminated, but also can be contracted by exposure to some animals ("Salmonellosis - Topic Overview", 1995-2011). The best ways of preventing salmonella bacterium contamination in your home are to only eat well cooked foods and to wash your hands after handling any uncooked foods, or handling animals (especially reptiles).
• How is this infectious agent transmitted through food or water?
Salmonella can be found in the stool of many kinds of animals. A person can become infected with the bacterium if he or she does not wash his or her hands after handling the animal. Certain animals, like hamsters, baby chicks, ducklings, and reptiles are more likely to carry the bacterium then other common household pets. Parents should make sure if their children are playing with reptiles, turtles, chicks, duckling, or rodents that they wash their hands very well immediately afterwards. Thus, doing so can decrease the risk of getting Salmonella. Food may be contaminated during the processing and handling, especially if the workers do not wash their hands after using the restroom. Beef, poultry, milk, and eggs are the most infected foods. However, vegetables can be infected as well, and should be washed thoroughly and peeled ("Salmonellosis - Topic Overview", 1995-2011).
• What is an example of a real life outbreak of this food-borne illness in the United States?
An example of a real life outbreak of Salmonella was in 2011, when a turkey vendor’s supplies were tainted, killed one person and left 77 people sick. This particular outbreak spread into 26 different states. The location, which was not named, produced 3 out of 4 of the ground turkey samples taken from four stores that were infected with Salmonella. During this out break officials were worried because the particular strain of Salmonella was resistant to common antibiotics. Because of the resistant’s to antibiotics, it raised the risk of hospitalization and treatment failure, as well as the possibility of having severe or fatal reactions. Even though people can recover from Salmonella, it can be very deadly as well ("Health Buzz: Salmonella Outbreak Spreads To 26 States, Kills 1", 2012). Be sure to wash your hands, make sure foods are completely cooked, and produce has been washed and peeled as well. It is always better to be safe than sorry concerning your health, or anyone else for that matter.
• What are the clinical symptoms, duration of the disease, and treatment if any?
Clinical symptoms of Salmonella poisoning are diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts between 3 and 7 days. If several people at once get sick with food poisoning, then the appropriate tests will be administered to determine what strand of food poisoning is causing the illness. Once determined that it is Salmonella, then the infected person will be put on antibiotics for 10-14 days. If a patient is immunosuppressed, then the patient will be hospitalized and put on antibiotics and some of their care will be managed by a disease specialist. There are also people who are carriers of Salmonella that may not show any symptoms, but still pass it on to someone else. To be cured of carrier status the individual will need to undergo surgery to remove their gallbladder and take antibiotics. However, only about 85% of carriers can be cured by this treatment ("Salmonella Infection", 1995-2010).
• What steps can be taken to prevent further outbreaks? Include individual as well as environmental precautions and methods.
Steps that can be taken to prevent further outbreaks are by eating well cooked foods and do not assume that organic means safe, and keeping a squeaky clean kitchen. When cooking your food, whether it is vegetables or meat, make sure it is cleaned very well and cooked completely. The pathogens can hide in the littlest nooks and crannies and is why just cleaning it is not good enough. You must cook the food thoroughly also. Organic foods may not be safe as well. In 2006 among an E-coli break out in spinach, the organic spinach was among the list. A worker that is handling the crop may not have washed his hands properly, and is one way organic foods can become infected. As for the kitchen, chicken is one of the foods that is most likely to get contaminated with bacterium (including, but not limited to salmonella). After you wash and get the chicken started cooking, wash all items that were used with the preparation with hot soapy water—including the cutting boards ("New Salmonella Outbreak: Here's How To Reduce Your Risk", 2012). Also remember to wash your hands thoroughly, not just after you are done cooking, but in-between each type of food as well.
Reference Page
Health Buzz: Salmonella Outbreak Spreads to 26 States, Kills 1. (2012). Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/managing-your-healthcare/infectious- diseases/articles/2011/08/03/health-buzz-salmonella-outbreak-spreads-to-26-states-kills-1
New Salmonella Outbreak: Here's How to Reduce Your Risk. (2012). Retrieved from http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/articles/2009/01/09/new-salmonella-outbreak-heres-how-to-reduce-your-risk?s_cid=related-links:TOP Salmonella infection. (1995-2010). Retrieved from http://www.sciencedaily.com/articles/s/salmonellosis.htm Salmonellosis - Topic overview. (1995-2011). Retrieved from http://www.webmd.com/food-
recipes/food-poisoning/tc/salmonellosis-topic-overview
