General Information:

• Salmonella: gram-negative rod-shaped bacilli

• S/S: diarrhea (often bloody), fever and abdominal cramping; Incubation: 12-24hrs, duration: 4-7d

• Generally resolves without treatment. Antibiotics prolong bacterial shedding and thus only recommended in severely ill patients (high fever, severe diarrhea/dehydration, sepsis), the very young, and the very old.

 

Area of the world affected:

• Worldwide, especially in developing countries

 

Relevance to the US physician:

• As of Oct. 7^th, 278 people infected in the most recent US outbreak, thought to be related to chicken from Foster Farms

• Many of these strains of Samonella were drug-resistant

 

Bottom Line:

Suspect Salmonellosis in patients with appropriate exposure and symptoms, give supportive care for most, only give antibiotics to severely ill patients after sending blood and stool culture and sensitivities.

 

University of Maryland Section of Global Emergency Health

Author: Andi Tenner, MD, MPH

References

http://www.cdc.gov/salmonella/heidelberg-10-13/index.html