General Question about Salmonella

Jolie, BSN · Nov 10, 2011

I think the answer is, "It depends."

If a person ingests only a small colony of bacteria, s/he may have a strong enough immune system to overcome the bacteria and prevent an infection.

If the same person were to ingest a significantly larger "dose" of the bacteria, it may be more likely to overwhelm the individual's immune system and cause an infection.

Other factors may come into play as well, such as the person's overall health and strength, the presence of any immune system compromise, the number of "healthy" bacteria in the individual's gut, etc.

boushie87 · Nov 10, 2011

Also depends on the virulence of the bacteria. There are many strains of salmonella. Each piece of chicken may have different # of bacteria but after a certain amount they will have similar symptoms. I have salmonella food poisoning and was in the hospital for a week. Some people just throw up and poop at home haha so it just depends :) Not fun though! Why do you ask?

janice_c67, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2011

I don't think it makes a difference in how sick you get, it might make a difference in the incubation period and the time it takes for the person to start feeling sick. plus there are probably other factors like the person's immune system, age, etc. as long as you get enough bacteria in that it can incubate and grow, there is no limit to how bad it can get.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2011

hello everyone,
i have a questions about salmonella for all you microbiology wiz kids
does the amount of salmonella that you ingest determine how sick you will be?
for instance, if two people ate two pieces of chicken, one is extremely raw with confirmed salmonella... and the other eats a piece of chicken that has only a small portion that in uncooked and contains salmonella..
will the two individuals both be equally sick?? or will the person who ingested more salmonella be more sick than the other??
whats your take?

every year approximately 40,000 cases of [color=#3789b9]salmonellosis are reported in the u.s. many milder cases are not diagnosed or reported, so the actual number of infections may be 30 or more times greater.[color=#3789b9] salmonellosis is more common in the summer than in the winter. children are the most likely to get salmonellosis. young children, older adults, and people who have [color=#3789b9]impaired immune systems are the most likely to have severe infections.

recommended related to food poisoning

[color=#3789b9]food poisoning myths

do you know what it takes to keep you and your family from getting food poisoning? some 82% of americans say they're confident they prepare food safely. yet many do not adhere to simple guidelines for safe food handling, according to a 2008 survey by the international food information council foundation. from salmonella to e. coli to listeria, food poisoning is on consumers' minds after a series of high-profile outbreaks across the country. but how much do we really know about keeping food...

[color=#3789b9]read the 9 food poisoning myths article > >

what causes salmonellosis?

you can get salmonellosis by eating food contaminated with salmonella. this can happen in the following ways:

food may be contaminated during food processing or food handling.
food may become contaminated by the unwashed hands of an infected food handler. a frequent cause is a food handler who does not wash his or her hands with soap after using the bathroom.
salmonella may also be found in the feces of some pets, especially those with [color=#3789b9]diarrhea. you can become infected if you do not wash your hands after contact with these feces.
reptiles, baby chicks and ducklings, and small rodents such as hamsters are particularly likely to carry salmonella. you should always wash your hands immediately after handling one of these animals, even if the animal is healthy. adults should also be careful that children wash their hands after handling reptiles, pet turtles, baby chicks or ducklings, or small rodents.

beef, poultry, milk, and eggs are most often infected with salmonella. but vegetables may also be contaminated. contaminated foods usually look and smell normal.

what are the symptoms?

symptoms of salmonellosis include diarrhea, [color=#3789b9]fever, and abdominal cramps. they develop 12 to 72 hours after infection, and the illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days. most people recover without treatment. but diarrhea and [color=#3789b9]dehydration may be so severe that it is necessary to go to the hospital. older adults, infants, and those who have impaired immune systems are at highest risk.

if you only have diarrhea, you usually recover completely, although it may be several months before your bowel habits are entirely normal. a small number of people who are infected with salmonellosis develop [color=#3789b9]reiter's syndrome, a disease that can last for months or years and can lead to chronic [color=#3789b9]arthritis.

how is salmonellosis diagnosed?

salmonellosis is diagnosed based on a medical history and a [color=#3789b9]physical exam. your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms, foods you have recently eaten, and your work and home environments. a [color=#3789b9]stool culture and [color=#3789b9]blood tests may be done to confirm the diagnosis.

http://www.webmd.com/food-recipes/food-poisoning/tc/salmonellosis-topic-overview

BluegrassRN · Nov 10, 2011

O.M.G. Esme12 is channelling Daytonite.

It brought a little smile to my face.

Esme12, ASN, BSN, RN · Nov 10, 2011

O.M.G. Esme12 is channelling Daytonite.
It brought a little smile to my face.

Thank you for the compliment. Daytonite was a great mentor and a smart lady........I wish I could have met her.

But I just haveb plenty of spare time and I LOVE Google and LMGTFY.......http://lmgtfy.com/