Salmonella and Food Poisoning - Essay Example

CAUSATIVE AGENTS: Salmonella.typhi, Salmonella Choleraesuis, and perhaps Salmonella.Paratyphi A and Salmonella. Paratyphi B is primarily infective for humans, and infection with this organism implies acquisition from a human source. NATURAL RESERVOIRS: • The feces of persons who have an unsuspected subclinical disease or are carriers are a more important source of contamination. Example: when carriers working as food handlers are shedding organisms • Many animals, including cattle, rodents, and fowl are naturally infected with a variety of salmonellae and have the bacteria in their tissues[meat], excreta, or eggs.

• The high incidence of salmonellae, in commercially prepared chickens has been widely publicized. METHOD OF TRANSMISSION: • Salmonellae are often pathogenic for humans or animals when acquired by the oral route. They are transmitted from animals and animal products to humans where they cause enteritis, systemic infection, and enteric fever. DESCRIPTION OF THE INFECTION: • The ingested salmonellae reach the small intestine from which they enter the lymphatics and then the bloodstream.

• They are carried by the blood to many organs including the intestine. • The organisms multiply in intestinal lymphoid tissue and are excreted in stools. • After an incubation period of 10 to 14 days fever, malaise, headache, constipation,bradycardia, and myalgia occur. • The fever rises to a high plateau and the spleen and liver become enlarged. • Rose spots usually on the skin of the abdomen or chest are seen briefly in rare cases.