Transcript Salmonella

Salmonella
DISEASE ASSOCIATED FACTS
 Salmonellosis”: Any of several bacterial infections
caused by species of Salmonella, ranging from mild to
serious infections.
 Two main kinds in humans: enteric fever (typhoid and
paratyphoid), and gastroenteritis (non-typhoidal)
 Bacterium of 2501 identified strains, as of 2001. Many
different diseases are caused by more than 1,400
serotypes of this bacteria genus
OTHER FACTS
 “Salmonella” derived from Dr. Salmon, a U.S. veterinary
surgeon, who discovered and isolated the strain enterica
or choleraesuis from the intestine of a pig in 1885.
 The bacteria are ingested orally by contaminated food or
water.
 Refrigeration prevents growth but does not kill bacteria.
 Heating at 57-60°C or 134-140°F has shown to be
effective in killing the bacteria.
 Optimal growth: 37°C or 98.6°F
PRINCIPAL HABITATS FOR DIFFERENT
TYPES OF SALMONELLA
 Their principal habitat is the intestinal tracts and bloodstream
of humans, and in the intestinal tracts of a wide variety of
animals.
 The WHO groups Salmonella into different types:
- Typhoidal (enteric) Salmonella (example: S. typhi)
٠causes typhoid and paratyphoid fever
٠restricted to growth in human hosts
٠principal habitat is in intestinal tracts and the
bloodstream
PRINCIPAL HABITATS FOR DIFFERENT
TYPES OF SALMONELLA
 Nontyphoidal Salmonella (example: S. enteritidis, S.typhimurium)
٠prevalent in gastrointestinal tracts of a broad range of
animals, including mammals, reptiles, birds and insects.
٠cause a whole range of diseases in animals and humans,
mainly gastroenteritis.
٠usually transferred animal-to-person, through certain food
products: fresh meat, poultry, eggs and milk, fruits, vegetables, seafood
٠house and exotic pets, contamination through contact with their feces
 Salmonella most restricted to certain animals such as cattle and pigs;
infrequently in humans; if these strains do cause disease in humans, it is
often invasive and life threatening.
TRANSMISSION
 Food borne: Transmitted via improperly prepared, previously
contaminated food or water
 - Meat: poultry, wild birds, pork
 - Dairy: eggs
 Pet turtles and lizards
 Three clinical forms of salmonellosis
- Gastroenteritis (S. typhimurium)
- Septicemia (S. choleraesius)
- Enteric Fevers (i.e. S. typhi – Typhoid Fever)
 Especially: the elderly, infants, immunocompromised patients
(AIDS, sickle cell anemia)
HISTORY: CARRIER STATUS
 Typhoid Mary” Mallon was the first famous
carrier of typhoid fever in the U.S.
 Some individuals have natural immunity to
Salmonella. Known as “chronic carriers”, they
contract only mild or asymptomatic disease, but
still carry the bacteria in their body for a long
time. These cases serve as natural reservoir for
the disease.
 Approximately 3% of persons infected with S.
typhi and 0.1% of those infected with nontyphoidal
salmonellae become chronic carriers
which may last from a few weeks to years.
 One such case was Mary Mallon, who was
hired as a cook at several private homes in the
New York area in the early 1900’s.
Mary Mallon
 Mary Mallon caused several typhoid outbreaks, moving from
household to household, always disappearing before an epidemic
could be traced back to the particular household Mary was
working in. All together, she had worked for seven families, with
22 cases of typhoid and one death.
 She was finally overtaken by the authorities in 1907 and
committed to an isolation center on North Brother Island, NY.
There she stayed until she was released in 1910, on the condition
that she never accept employment involving food handling.
 But: She was found to work as a cook and to cause typhoid
outbreaks again. She was admitted back to North Brother Island,
where she lived until her death in 1938.
OUTBREAKS
 More recently reported outbreaks in the U.S. involve
different kinds of Salmonella strains, predominantly S.
enteritidis and S. typhimurium.
 In 1985, a salmonellosis (S. typhimurium) outbreak involving
16,000 confirmed cases in 6 states by low fat milk and whole
milk from one Chicago dairy
 Largest outbreak of food-borne salmonellosis in the U.S.
Investigations discovered that raw and pasteurized milk had
been accidentally mixed.
OUTBREAK OR BIOTERRIORISM?
 Oregon 1984: a Buddhist religious cult known as the
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Rajneeshees, sought to eventually run the whole country by first
winning the local election by using salmonella bacteria.
They brewed a "salsa" of salmonella and sprinkled it on the town's
restaurant salad bars.
Ten restaurants were hit and more than 700 people got sick
First large scale bioterrorism attack on American soil
A community-wide outbreak of salmonellosis resulted; at least
751 cases were documented in a county that typically reports
fewer than five cases per year. Health officials soon pinned down
salmonella as the cause of the sudden outbreak, but put the blame
on food handlers
In 1984, who could have imagined bioterrorism?
RECENT OUTBREAKS?
 Multi-state Outbreak:
- Salmonella saintpaul: Since April 2008, 1438 persons ill in 43
states. Vehicle – tomatoes, jalapenos peppers and serrano
peppers grown in Mexico.
- Salmonella tennessee: Since August 2006 until February 2007, 425
persons ill in 44 states. Vehicle – Peter Pan and Great Value
peanut butter.
 Louisiana Outbreak:
- Salmonella braenderup : April 2007, 31 cases after eating at church
luncheon. Vehicle: possibly barbeque chicken or corn bread
dressing (epi link)
PREVENTION: TYPHOIDAL
SALMONELLA
 Typhoidal S.:
- Generally treated with antibiotics
-Vaccinations available; the CDC currently recommends vaccination
for persons traveling to developing countries
- Education of general public, especially in developing countries;
identification of all carriers and sources of contamination of water
supplies
- Avoid risky foods & drinks: buy bottled water or boil water for at
least 1 minute;
 COOK and CLEAN food thoroughly, avoid raw vegetables
 and fruits
 -WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP AND WATER!!!
PREVENTION: NON-TYPHOIDAL
SALMONELLA
 Pasteurization of milk-products; Eggs from known infected
commercial flocks will be pasteurized instead of being sold as
grade A shell eggs.
- Tracebacks, on-farm testing, quality assurance programs,
regulations regarding refrigeration, educational messages for
safe handling and cooking of eggs
- Cross-contamination: uncooked contaminated foods kept
separate from cooked, ready-to-eat foods