Salmonella – Frequently Asked Questions
Salmonella bacteria cause food poisoning. Symptoms include diarrhoea, stomach cramps and sometimes vomiting and fever. Most people recover without treatment, but if you become seriously ill you may need hospital care because the dehydration (fluid loss) caused by the illness can be life-threatening.
Who gets salmonella?
Anyone can get salmonella, but young children, the elderly and people who have immune systems that are not working properly (including people with cancer, AIDS or alcoholism) have a greater risk of becoming severely ill.
How do you get infected with salmonella?
You usually get salmonella by eating contaminated food. Salmonella bacteria live in the gut of many farm animals and can infect meat, eggs, poultry and milk. Other foods like green vegetables, fruit and shellfish can become contaminated through contact with manure in the soil or sewage in the water.
Contamination is also possible if raw and cooked foods are stored together. Most tortoises and terrapins, and other pet reptiles can also carry salmonella. Dogs, cats and rodents can occasionally become infected.
It is impossible to tell from its appearance whether food is contaminated with salmonella. It will look, smell and taste normal.
Salmonella can be spread from person to person by poor hygiene, by failing to wash your hands properly after going to the toilet or after handling contaminated food.
How can you avoid getting infected with salmonella?
Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water:
- Before preparing and eating food
- After handling raw food
- After going to the toilet or changing a baby’s nappy
- After contact with pets and other animals, especially reptiles and amphibians
- After working in the garden
- After emptying rubbish bins
- After handling or washing soiled bedding, linen or clothing.
Keep cooked food away from raw food.
Store raw foods below cooked or ready-to-eat foods in the fridge to prevent contamination.
Wash raw fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating.
Cook food thoroughly, especially meat, so that it is piping hot.
Keep all kitchen surfaces and equipment, including knives, chopping boards and dish cloths clean.
Do not drink unpasteurised milk.
Do not drink untreated water from lakes, rivers or streams.
Do not keep reptiles in households where there is a child under 1 year of age or someone with poor immunity e.g. being treated for cancer.
If someone has salmonella, wash all dirty clothes, bedding and towels in the washing machine on the hottest cycle possible. Clean toilet seats, toilet bowls, flush handles, taps and wash hand basins after use with detergent and hot water, followed by a household disinfectant.
Treatment
Antibiotics are not usually given for salmonella. However, if you are very poorly the medical staff may prescribe them.
Drink plenty of fluids, particularly if you have diarrhoea.
What else should I do while I am ill?
Where possible stay at home until your diarrhoea has stopped.
Hand washing is extremely important not only for the person with the illness but also for everyone in the household.
If you can, avoid making food for other people while you are ill. If this is not possible, you must wash your hands before and after handling food.
Hands must be washed after using the toilet.
If young children have this illness, they must be supervised when washing their hands or have their hands washed for them.
Use hot soapy water to clean toilet seats and toilets flush handles. Use your usual toilet cleaner and brush to clean the toilet pan every day and when visibly soiled.
Use a separate cloth and hot soapy water to clean the taps and door handles every day and when visibly soiled.
When can I go back to school or work?
Do not return to school or work until 48 hours after the symptoms have stopped and you are feeling well.
Occasionally people contract a more serious type of salmonella, in which case you may be required to stay away from work for longer.
You should tell your employer that you have salmonella if you work with vulnerable groups of people such as the elderly, children, those in poor health or if you handle food.
Salmonella is notifiable to the Health Protection Unit. You may have visits from the Environmental Health Officers.
Where can I get further advice?
If you have concerns about your health see your family doctor.
