All About Salmonella

Direct from the CDC, Spotlight: Salmonella in Alfalfa Sprouts, 2009. The US Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend that consumers do not eat raw alfalfa sprouts until further notice because of a risk of Salmonella serotype Saintpaul contamination.

Salmonella investigation, Collaborative efforts of many local, state, federal public health and agriculture agencies led to the implication of alfalfa sprouts. The CDC report can be found here http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/wk/mm58e0507.pdf. Salmonellaosis is an infection with bacteria called salmonella. Most people infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after becoming infected. The illness usually last 4 to 7 days, most recover without any treatment. However some infected people have to be hospitalized from severe diarrhea.

Salmonella is a group of bacteria that passes from feces of people or animals to other people or animals and can be transferred onto plants or cooked food in a restaurant. Salmonella treatment, from the CDC website; "Salmonella infections usually resolve in 5-7 days and often do not require treatment other than oral fluids. Persons with severe diarrhea may require rehydration with intravenous fluids. Antibiotics, such as ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, or ciprofloxacin, are not usually necessary unless the infection spreads from the intestines. Some Salmonella bacteria have become resistant to antibiotics, largely as a result of the use of antibiotics to promote the growth of food animals."

For your information some very interesting facts about infectious outbreaks can be found here. The salmonella bacteria lives in the intestines of humans or other animals and is usually transferred by eating foods contaminated with feces (sound appealing?). Contaminated foods are usually from animal origin like eggs, milk, beef or poultry. Salmonella may also be found in pet feces which can be transferred to humans without proper hand washing. Adults should also assure that children wash their hands after handling a reptile or bird, or after touching its environment. Many times infections occur in restaurants.

More tips on avoiding contaminations are: Cross-contamination of foods should be avoided. Uncooked meats should be stored separate from cooked and ready to eat foods. People who have salmonellosis should not prepare food or pour water for others until their diarrhea has resolved. (but they do), Reptiles and turtles should no be pets for children or in the house with an infant., also children should not handle baby chicks or other young birds. Everyone should immediately wash their hands after touching birds, including baby chicks and ducklings, or their environment.

CDC Salmonellosis

http://www.cdc.gov/

Salmonella Investigation

http://cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss5510a1.htm